Eight years after emerging with their breathless New York-accented musical tapestries of love, sex and tragedy, illustrated via rollicking bursts of razor-edged pop, the Scissor Sisters are about to release their fourth record.

Magic Hour will be issued on Monday (28th May) and boasts the kind of support and collaboration that writes large just how successful Jake Shears, Ana Matronic and their band have become. The new record features contributions from Pharrell Williams, Diplo, Alex Rihda (BoysNoize), Azealia Banks and Calvin Harris and there's every reason to expect it will be a return to form following 2010's Night Work, which achieved only modest success. The first single from the new LP, Only the Horses, dropped into the UK chart at No 12, so it's looking good.

Live, Scissor Sisters are a riot of colour, sequinned pants and innuendo; all delivering a filthy slap that reeks of gin and regret. It is a live expereince like few others and you can take it all in when Scissor Sisters return to these islands in the autumn.

The UK and Ireland tour kicks off in Dublin on 1st October, followed by shows in Belfast, Leeds, Glasgow and more, before the final gig at the Roundhouse in London on 23rd October 2012. We will have tickets available from 9am on Friday 25th May, priced €33.50 for Dublin and from around £30 for the UK shows.

Ahead of the autumn dates, Jake, Ana and co will be appearing at the BT River of Music event on 21st July at the Tower of London. Tickets, which were free, are all gone.