“IDEA 01,” the opener of IDLES’ new album, sets out to give us a glimpse into the cerebral, heady tunes all over Tangk. Namely, the pianos, electronic flourishes, and melodic attitudes of the opener all paint the soundscape of this album, especially on tracks “A Gospel,” “POP POP POP” and “Monolith,” which both feature growling bass tones and memorable melodies. Lead member Joe Talbot’s approach to themes of love and maturity that attributes to what makes Tangk unique, diverse, and satisfying.
IDLES’ token catch phrase “Love is the fing” is represented more potently on Tangk than much of their previous work. Not only does Tangk feature an array of punk-inspired, bass heavy love songs, but it also features a sweeter, more sensitive side to the bands forte. On “Gift Horse,” for example, Talbot sings “My baby, she-she’s so great / I wake up grateful every day / My baby is beautiful / All is love and love is all / Fuck the king, he ain’t the king, she’s the king.” Or even, on the soaring “Roy;” “I’m a smart man, but I’m dumb for you / If I see myself, if I give ‘em hell, will you fly? / If I cut off the head of the hand that fed, are you mine?” Talbot, rightly so, taps into his experiences over the last several years – a divorce, a child, a new relationship – making Tangk his own personal statement.
Cuts like “Dancer,” “Hall & Oates” and “Jungle” continue this theme in melodic fashion. The former, featuring LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, is the best fusion of dance and punk music you can hear, besides perhaps LCD Soundsystem itself.
“Grace” is also a great listen, but it feels like an unnecessary detour on the album. IDLES’ needed to slow things down a bit here, perhaps a more stripped back piano piece would have fleshed out the instrumental palette on Tangk. Further, “Monolith” is just the opposite, it feels too stripped back to finish off the album, rather a grander presentation would have ended the album on the right note.
This said, Tangk is well worth the three year wait. IDLES hits an odd, very particular niche in the punk rock genre – one that is multifaceted, colorful, and promotes lead singer Joe Talbot’s sensitivity to his recent past.
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