Rachel Aggs and Eilidh Rodgers of Glasgow’s Sacred Paws describe their latest single from Run Around the Sun best: “‘Almost It’ is about how you’re always striving towards something, but you often don’t notice the things you’ve achieved or the fun you’ve had along the way. It’s about living in the moment, but acknowledging that it can be hard sometimes.” The song is debuting a few days ahead of the album’s May 31 release date with a VHS-tastic music video:

It was a friend celebrating a birthday by toasting “Here’s to another run around the sun!” that lent the album its name. “You know when you hear a word and you suddenly keep hearing it everywhere? It was one of those,” Rachel recalls. “It just kept coming up.” Run Around the Sun’s songs do tend to have a preoccupation with time and growing up, although that wasn’t a theme that the band really noticed until later. “Brush Your Hair” sees Rachel singing to her younger self, and “How Far” was an exercise in patience. “‘A run around the sun’ sounds so effortless but it’s such an understatement; that’s never what a year feels like! But it’s a useful way to think about it when you look back.”

Pre-orders of Run Around the Sun are shipping out now; get yours on CD, LP, and limited-edition translucent green Peak Vinyl in the Merge store, or wherever records are sold.

Sacred Paws on tour:
Jun 05 Rosyth, UK – Rosyth Library
Jun 07 Glasgow, UK – St. Luke’s
Jun 08 Nottingham, UK – Rough Trade
Jun 12 Leeds, UK – Headrow House
Jun 13 London, UK – Redon
Jun 14 Manchester, UK – YES (basement)
Jun 15 Edinburgh, UK – Dissection Room Summerhall
Jul 05 Paris, FR – La Gaité Lyrique (Loud & Proud Festival)
Jul 16 Brooklyn, NY – Rough Trade
Jul 17 Boston, MA – ONCE Ballroom
Jul 18 Portsmouth, NH – Press Room
Jul 19 Montreal, QC – Casa Del Popolo
Jul 20 Toronto, ON – The Garrison
Jul 21 Detroit, MI – Deluxx Fluxx
Jul 23 Philadelphia, PA – PhilaMOCA
Jul 24 Washington, DC – Comet Ping Pong
Jul 25 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle (MRG30) [SOLD OUT]
Jul 26 Columbus, OH – Big Room Bar
Jul 28 Chicago, IL – Beat Kitchen