As the Streets reach the end of the road, Mike Skinner has unveiled his new direction. The singer and rapper has announced the D.O.T.,, a collaboration with the Music's former frontman Rob Harvey.
The D.O.T. have posted an album's worth of demos on their new website – and they don't sound much like Don't Mug Yourself. Besides the crunch of drum machine, the songs are dominated by Harvey's singing; the music seems more indebted to Phil Collins than to UK garage. Even a track such as Heart Won't Bruise, which recalls Katy B, begins with all the gravitas of a Maroon 5 B-side.
The duo have made videos for most of the nine songs, featuring shots of Harvey crooning and Skinner brooding. One clip, Whatever It Takes, is dedicated to those who died at this summer's Pukkelpop festival, where the Streets had been due to perform.
Skinner and Harvey have been friends for years, collaborating on the Streets' last album, Computers and Blues. The D.O.T. "have SOOO many songs", Harvey tweeted. "If we continue to progress as we have, we should be aiming to release something … next year maybe." Asked about touring, Harvey replied: "Not for a while."
The Streets' final concerts will take place next month.
