Mattie Safer -- longtime bassist and co-vocalist for The Rapture -- has left the band. Saxophonist/keyboardist/percussionist Gabe Andruzzi took the band's blog to announce the split. Although he didn't specify the reasons for Safer's departure, he did imply that the change was a necessary one, writing, "[w]e are sad to see him go but it seems it is the best for all of us."

The rest of the band plans to stay intact and is even working on new material. More from Andruzzi: "Luke, Vito and I have been on a creative tear. We’ve been working out of our little Brooklyn make shift studio, writing, demoing and jamming. I’m pretty damn excited to share the fruits of our labor with you." He added that plans to enter the studio are still some time off.

The Rapture will play as a trio for the first time in September, at Australia's Parklife Festival. The band hasn't released an album since 2006, but has issued a number of singles since their last long player. [NME, Daily Swarm]