Def Nettle are back with ‘The Party’, a restless new track that leans into the band’s mix of punk, funk and offbeat pop. Released alongside a remix by GLOK, the solo project of Ride guitarist Andy Bell, the single continues a run of steady attention for the group across radio and press.

The band have already picked up support from BBC Radio 6 and RTÉ 2FM. Earlier singles ‘Get Me Here’, ‘Headwrecker’ and ‘Nothing For It’ set the tone, while 2026 opener ‘Mohawk’ landed RTÉ 2FM’s Track of the Week. ‘The Party’ keeps that momentum going, but with a slightly different slant.

Frontman and producer Glen Brady draws on a set of influences that sit somewhere between Talk Talk, Prefab Sprout, The The and The Cure. The result is a track that feels loose but controlled, pairing a light pop touch with something more pointed underneath. Lyrically, it plays with double meanings, sketching out a figure out of step and late to the moment, while hinting at wider ideas around ‘party’ politics.

Musically, the band keep things tight without sounding polite. Accordion lines move through the track alongside Ely Siegel’s fluid bass, while guest guitarist Dissenter Melody adds sharp, jazz-leaning riffs. Damien Fox’s drumming stays minimal but direct, and Lisa Doyle-Taaffe’s backing vocals soften the edges just enough. There is a clear nod to 1980s alternative music, though it avoids sounding stuck there.

If the original track keeps one foot in pop, the GLOK remix drags it somewhere darker. Andy Bell strips back the brighter elements and rebuilds the song around low-end weight and atmosphere. The result leans towards dark wave, with echoes of Depeche Mode’s Revolver-era mood and a slow, heavy pulse that recalls Massive Attack. Vocals are pushed into the background, replaced by a steady, late-night groove that feels built for dim rooms and long journeys home.

Def Nettle’s wider story adds some context to the polish. Their debut album DN001 drew strong reviews, and Brady’s career stretches across performance and production, with credits including work with R.E.M. and time spent as an engineer with the California State Symphony. He has also toured with DARK alongside Andy Rourke and Dolores O’Riordan, and mixed the band’s album Science Agrees.

With ‘The Party’, Def Nettle keep their balance between sharp ideas and accessible sound, while the GLOK remix shows how easily that balance can tip into something heavier.