The fourth album from Jacob Yates and the Pearly Gate Lockpickers, ‘Murder 24/7’, was conceived during the COVID-19 lockdown. The concept for the album developed through conversations between Jacob and Christopher as they watched the BBC documentary of the same name. The series follows critical murder investigations in real time. They were struck by the show’s title, the dub soundtrack and the way the programme – and others like it – deal with murder. Murder as entertainment. It provoked thoughts of Child Ballads, Broadside ballads, music as reportage, the audience and the human condition.

The songs wound their way through truth and fantasy. Some of Jacob’s personal life found it’s way in. The initial idea warped under the weight of the music added by the band – drawing influence from Fun Boy Three, Andrew Weatherall, On-U Sound and Metal Box by PiL. The result is a beautifully dark record, underpinned by driving rhythms.