THE BLACK WATCH Explore How Cats Dream In New Track “Never You Mind”

THE BLACK WATCH is back with a new feline-inspired single and video, the band’s latest release that pairs whimsy with a deeper, more contemplative message. The track Never You Mind is taken from their 27th album, The Fuzzy End of the Lollipop, which is set to release on October 2, 2026 via ATOM Records. The accompanying video follows Fifi, the black cat of video director Ian Holmes, as she weaves through the streets of London and onto a festival stage, capturing the buoyant energy of the track.

New Video, New Album

The single Never You Mind arrives as the lead of the forthcoming album. The video concept draws on the album cover, which features four cats arranged in a band-photo pose. Video director Ian Holmes shared that he used his own cat, Fifi, in the project, building on prior collaborations with the band. “Ian’s done some lovely work on our other videos, so we showed him the cover and let him rip,” says John Andrew Fredrick, the band’s vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter.

Creative Vision and Musical Tone

“I don’t know what cats dream about, probably blissful dreams of cream and T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” laughs John Andrew Fredrick about the new video for “Never You Mind.” The song’s whimsical visuals complement a track described as deeply melodic and driven by a piccolo trumpet hook that mirrors the band’s lively approach. Fredrick explains, “All of my songs are about ways to console the listeners for the vicissitudes of life… ‘Never You Mind’ is a reminder that that is often a waste of time. If you’ve been double-crossed, or star-crossed, or are just cross with life or your palm’s not been crossed with silver in some time, you know what to do!”

The track is heavily inspired by The Beatles, with Fredrick noting, “Never You Mind” turned out brilliantly because we’ve been dying to include a piccolo trumpet part à la Magical Mystery Tour. He adds that the band’s approach to melody and structure aims for accessible, hook-laden songs with a nuanced, layered feel.

The Fuzzy End of the Lollipop: Album Details

The Fuzzy End of the Lollipop features 11 tracks that blend indie rock, dream pop, and shoegaze. Fredrick describes the goal as making an album that feels cohesive enough to want to spin again upon completion: “Our goal this time was to make a record that was so ‘of a piece’ that it would be the sort of album that, once it ends, you just have to spin it again. It’s meant to be quite terse and flow like a deep and deadly quiet river.”

Album contributors include producer/engineer Rob Campanella (ex-The Brian Jonestown Massacre), and master producer Scott Campbell (Stevie Nicks, Shelby Lynne, Acetone), who has worked with the band since 1991, along with Andy Creighton (guitar), who joined in 2017. The album cover’s feline motif extends into the music videos, with Fredrick noting, “The cats on the cover are Rob Campanella’s cats. I kind of work with them now.”

Tracklist

The Fuzzy End of the Lollipop includes the following tracks:

1. Marie Bouzkova
2. Never You Mind
3. Sorrow’s Crown
4. The Merry Kind
5. The Fuzzy End of the Lollipop
6. Falter, Splutter, Fall
7. Everything Changed!
8. Stars at Last
9. In Generalities
10. Her Halo
11. Sorrow’s Crown (Dance Mix)

Band Lineup

the black watch consists of:

• John Andrew Fredrick — guitar, percussion, vocals
• Rob Campanella — guitar, bass
• Chandler Fredrick — bass, backing vocals
• Andy Creighton — guitar, bass, drums, string arrangements, backing vocals

Album Availability and Pre-Orders

Pre-orders for The Fuzzy End of the Lollipop are available, with details provided in the release materials. The single Never You Mind is out now, and the upcoming album is set for release on October 2, 2026. You can pre-order the album here.

For further information, updates, and to explore the band’s work, visit the sources linked within the release materials, including Bandcamp and YouTube.

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