You know what they say about albums, you wait six years for one and then two come along at once.

The Dears’ ‘No Cities Left’ is still a cherished record for us. But that was 2003 and it’s been six years since the Montréal outfit’s last studio album, 2011’s ‘Denegration Street’.

Now, there’s going to be two in 2017. The first one, ‘Times Infinity Volume One’, is out on 3 February. Shortly after, they’ll play a show at London’s Village Underground on 28 February. On a date yet to be confirmed next summer, part two of ‘Times Infinity’ will be released.

Talking about the releases frontman Murray A. Lightburn says: “Putting these two records together was like solving a puzzle: Volume One was about finding the edge pieces while Volume Two was about the middle pieces.”

They’re making the announced with a new track, the wonderfully titled ‘I Used To Pray For The Heavens To Fall’, accompanied by an animated video by Sinbad Richardson that tells the story of a beetle’s perilous journey into the city, building a rocket… The song is typically dramatic and anthemic from The Dears, too.

The Dears play their first UK shows in six years in February, this is where you’ll find them:

Cardiff, The Globe – 24 February

Bristol, The Fleece – 25

Leeds, Brudenell Social Club – 26

London Village Underground – 28