Sheffield dance-punk quintet Life Aquatic Band have shared their new single “Stuck In The Mud,” out today. The track serves as the title cut from the band’s forthcoming four-track EP, produced by Shuta Shinoda, due for release on February 20, 2026. Marking their first time working with a producer, the EP captures a more focused and shadowed version of the band’s sound while retaining its kinetic core.
Known for high-energy, genre-hopping performances, Life Aquatic Band leaned into dancefloor-driven intensity while drawing inspiration from DEVO, The B-52’s, LCD Soundsystem, Hot Chip, and Fat Dog. “We were really chasing the early 2000s electro clash movement, with also a lot of the New York No Wave movement of the 1970s,” the band explain. For the first time, guitars were largely removed from the process, with only fragments appearing on “Buggin Out,” heavily resampled into noise rather than melody.
The EP’s title reflects its thematic focus on frustration, repetition, and release. Recorded to tape, the sessions blend live instrumentation with synth-driven textures, shaping a dense but deliberate sound. “Shuta really helped us make this sound concise,” says vocalist and guitarist Ben Allen. “We’ve learned to be more selective with our maximalism.” Built on hypnotic grooves, percussive found sounds, and tension-filled loops, “Stuck In The Mud” anchors an EP that documents growth, restraint, and a darker palette without losing momentum.