Fifth album TANGK will not only satisfy the Idles diehard, but should continue to break down mainstream boundaries for the band
As a massive Idles fan (and part of the AF Gang since its inception), it’s hard to believe that they’re on their fifth album, but at the same time it’s really easy to believe! I first saw the boys on the Brutalism tour on a very hot and sweaty night at the Moth Club in 2017 and have gone on to see them many times around the world.
Here Nigel Godrich (bringing some Radiohead vibes) joins Kenny Beats and Mark Bowen on production and together they’ve created a beautiful record that is the band’s most experimental to date. TANGK will not only satisfy the Idles diehard, but should catapult them further into the spotlight and continue to break down mainstream boundaries.
The soaring guitars and anti-establishment lyrics (“Fuck the king”) of “Gift Horse” is classic Idles, while Talbot rapping “strong but vulnerable” on “POP POP POP” is top stuff. It’s been clear from his DJ sets that he likes a bit of hip-hop, so it’s fantastic to hear him finally rapping on one of their records. “Roy” is a real standout, its distorted sound and lyrics of the “fakes and the feds” a delightful combination. Elsewhere, LCD Soundsystem collaboration “Dancer” is an irresistible collision of post-punk and electronic with a killer bassline (Murphy and Talbot definitely going cheek to cheek on this).
Talbot has written love songs for TANGK that could only come from a tortured soul and Beavis, Devonshire, Kiernan and Bowen deliver meaningful music to complement the often gut wrenching lyrics. Although I’ll always love their life-changing debut, the production, drums and bass have come a long way since Brutalism.
Always meet your Idles and love is most definitely the fing.
- Idles – TANGK (Partisan) - February 21, 2024