White Bread Black Beer is the fifth studio album by British pop band Scritti Politti, released in the UK on 28 May 2006 by Rough Trade Records, and in the US on 25 July 2006 by Nonesuch Records. It is effectively a solo album by the group's only permanent member, Green Gartside, as it was written and recorded at his home in Dalston in east London and he sang and played all the instruments on the album. The album was Green's first for Rough Trade since leaving them in somewhat acrimonious circumstances in 1983, following the release of Scritti Politti's debut album Songs to Remember. Since then Scritti Politti had been signed to Virgin Records and the previous three albums were known for their highly-produced sound. White Bread Black Beer marked a return to a more minimalist style. The album was nominated for the 2006 Mercury Music Prize and has been critically regarded as one of 2006's finest, leading Gartside to perform his first worldwide gigs in almost 25 years. Release and promotion A single, "The Boom Boom Bap", was released ahead of the album. Containing references throughout to hip hop music and ending with a recital of the titles of the tracks on Run DMC's debut album, according to Green the song is about the difference "between being in love with something and being unhealthily addicted to it". It was listed as the 412th best song of the 2000s by Pitchfork. A second double A-sided single, "Snow in Sun"/"Robin Hood", was only released as an iTunes download. To promote the album Green embarked on his first live dates in 26 years, beginning with a low-key support slot ahead of the record's release at the Brixton Windmill on 7 January 2006. The band were billed as "Double G and the Traitorous Three", the "Traitorous Three" being his bandmates, all of whom were recruited by Green after meeting them in his local pub in Dalston. Green had suffered from stage fright since the early days of Scritti Politti, and had given up playing live after suffering a severe panic attack following a performance in 1980: he said of his return, "It was a kind of experiment to see if I would get the panic attacks again. And I didn't, so I guess I'm over it." Cover artwork The sleeve design is based on a stitch pattern created by Green's wife Alys.