Everything But the Girl will release their 11th studio album, Blue Reservoir, on Feb. 19 via Buzzin’ Fly and Virgin Music Group, following a return to intimate live performances that pushed Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt back toward direct guitar-and-voice songwriting.
The Bottom Line for Fans and Music Listeners
- The 10-song record follows Fuse, the duo’s 2023 release that ended a 24-year studio gap with electronic production.
- Creation of the new album was sparked by a 2025 residency at London’s MOTH Club and Watt purchasing his first Spanish nylon-string guitar in January 2026.
- The band has scheduled upcoming live dates, including shows at Union Chapel in late November and a return to MOTH Club in December.
From Shadowy Electronica Back to Acoustic Simplicity
The path to Blue Reservoir began with a surprise return to the stage. After spending their 2023 reunion album Fuse exploring sleek, shadowy electronica, Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt stepped back in front of audiences at London’s 300-capacity MOTH Club in 2025. Those sold-out shows drew thousands of hopeful fans to waiting lists and reminded the duo of their earliest work.
Everything But the Girl welcome you to a Blue Reservoir with new album and single https://t.co/wjHpMV9Hr9
“There was an intensity and simplicity to the MOTH shows that took us back to how we started out,” Thorn said, pointing to a style rooted in guitar and voice with a few extra colors. That directness became the catalyst for change.
The Spanish Nylon-String Guitar That Sparked a New Record
Following the 2025 residency, Ben Watt bought a Spanish nylon-string guitar in January 2026, an instrument he had long admired but never previously owned. “It is the sound of so much of the music I first connected with growing up, and I’d never actually owned one,” Watt said. “It became quite an emotional springboard for me. I found a voice I thought I’d lost.”
The songs emerged quickly during the first weeks of the year. Nine tracks were written on guitar and one on piano. In July, the duo recorded much of the album live over 10 days at London’s RAK Studios.
Collaborators, Track Lists, and Upcoming Live Dates
For the recording sessions at RAK Studios, Thorn and Watt were joined by longtime collaborators Rex Horan on double bass, Evan Jenkins on drums, and Brazilian percussionist Babo Moreno. Their son, Blake Watt, who performs as Family Stereo and is signed to Bella Union, contributes guest vocals on two tracks.
The first single from the project, “Young and Dumb,” is available now alongside a music video directed by Edward Bishop from a treatment by Thorn and Watt. The 10-song track list features “Forward,” “Scala,” “Young and Dumb,” “Do What You Can,” “Christmas Gone,” “Courage Mon Brave,” “The Round and Round,” “Fork in the Road,” “Good Hope,” and “The Great Unknown.”
| Album / Event | Release Date / Window | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Fuse (Album) | 2023 | Ended a 24-year studio gap with sleek electronica. |
| MOTH Club Residencies | 2025 – 2026 | Intimate 300-capacity London shows that inspired the new acoustic direction. |
| Union Chapel Shows | Nov. 29–30 | Two performances at the larger 900-capacity venue. |
| Blue Reservoir (Album) | Feb. 19 | 11th studio album released via Buzzin’ Fly and Virgin Music Group. |
Following appearances at the MOTH Club earlier this week, Everything But the Girl will play two shows at the 900-capacity Union Chapel on Nov. 29–30 before returning to the MOTH Club for a three-night run from Dec. 13 to Dec. 15.
