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Former Streets frontman Mike Skinner is to play his first gig with new project The D.O.T. in London tonight.
After a decade of gaining widespread acclaim, the Birmingham-based rapper called time on The Streets last year.
East London's XOYO is only a fraction of the size of venue Skinner played when touring final Streets release 'Computers and Blues', but his new project promises to offer an intruiging change of direction when it is given its live debut.
The new material has been deemed as a striking departure from the infectious hip-hop and garage sound that made The Streets so successful, instead showcasing a more obscure collection of songs.
The D.O.T. again sees Skinner team up with Streets collaborator and former front-man from The Music, Rob Harvey.
Harvey and Skinner as new duo The D.O.T.
Harvey told NME: "We’d both been in bands for 10 years and obviously Mike was really successful with what he did and I had a little bit of success with The Music boys but we were just bored of doing the same thing. So we just wanted to do something different”.
The pair themselves have described their new LP 'And That' as a 'vibrant mix' of influences that ranges from "straight pop songs" to a more "dancey" sound.
After collaborating with 2011 mercury-nominee, Ghostpoet, Skinner has also revealed other contributors on the album will include Clare Maguire and Detroit rapper, Danny Brown.
The finished album will be released next Monday after a process that saw Skinner and Harvey whittle a collection of 60 songs down to just 11.
Watch The D.O.T.'s current video below.
The D.O.T. kick-off a 14-date nationwide tour starting tonight at London's XOYO. For more information visit Gigwise Gig Tickets.
The D.O.T. Tour- October- November 2012
15 October London, XOYO
16 October Newcastle, Digital
17 October Glasgow, King Tuts
19 October Edinburgh, The Electric Circus
20 October Liverpool, The Masque
24 October Nottingham, Bodega
25 October Birmimgham, HMV Institute
26 October Preston, 53 Degrees
27 October Leeds, Brundenell Social Club
2 November Bristol, Thekla
4 November Manchester, Ruby Lounge
9 November Oxford, Bullingdon
10 November Brighton, Haunt
14 November Reading, Sub 89
Photos: a history of Mike Skinner and The Streets
