IST IST release new album “The Art of Lying”
IST IST have forged a formidable reputation on the back of uncompromising, intense headline shows at prestigious Manchester venues such as The Ritz, Gorilla and The Deaf Institute. With a fierce DIY ethic and through word of mouth alone, the band charted their own destiny. Making their mark with the acclaimed debut EP “Spinning Rooms” the band won over admirers from across the world and fans including Steve Lamacq and Tom Robinson on BBC Radio 6, who have supported ever since.
Through hard work and sheer determination, IST IST continue to plough their own furrow, building a growing catalogue and fanbase in the process. Releasing their debut album “Architecture” in 2020 (reviewed by LiveWire April 2020 5/5), the LP found significant success in the Indie, Physical and Vinyl Charts upon release and marked the band out as one of the leading lights of an incandescent new era for music born in Manchester.
Out today on Kind Violence records, “The Art of Lying” is an album of power-struggles and subterfuge, utopian ideals and dystopian regimes, across its 10 tracks “The Art of Lying” whispers tales of crumbling societies and corrupt governments; of truth and lies, love and death, oppression and resistance.
“Whilst the record isn’t a concept album, the title ‘The Art of Lying’ makes reference to the post-truth world we live in.” explains Andy Keating. “People put up barriers, literally and metaphorically; change who they are to feel more included, government messages are increasingly indecipherable from propaganda and social media continues to blur the lines between truth and reality. At the time of writing and recording, the whole world felt like an unsteady place to be, with everyone sailing in uncharted waters. This is reflected in the urgency of the album, combined with the lyrical content and the title.”
Written and recorded throughout 2020’s multiple lockdowns, “The Art of Lying” would provide a welcome distraction from the global pandemic outside and a point of renewed creative determination for IST IST as they sought to build on the foundations laid-down by their debut.
Although obviously an IST IST album, led by the baritone vocals of Adam Houghton, “The Art of Lying” brings in some new elements and styles. For example more use of subtle backing female vocals which really some of the tracks an added dimension (for example in Fat Cats Drown in Milk, and even more subtly in the chorus of Watching You Watching Me.
The album starts with the excellent Listening through the walls. Straight off the bat, we have something new from IST IST, a much more electronic/synth driven track which follows a protagonist who exists in an imagined reality whereby they are destined to live their life through others in a bid to find happiness.
I love how they use lyrics. Songs don’t have long lyrics concentrating on short but very descriptive emotive words, with lines such as “Ive been listening through the walls to acts of violence in the halls” and “forgive me I know not what I do, as all I’ve ever wanted was to be more like you”
We head into Fat cats drown in milk which for me felt as if it would be right at home on “Architecture” with it’s powerful guitars before we are entertained by Middle distance a song about alienation “ had a dream I was sleeping standing up. I was the space between the floor and the edge of a cliff. I was floating impervious to change”. The bass is a dominant feature with crisp bell like synth tones, and the guitars coming in more prominent during the chorus sections. As mentioned the use of backing vocals give it a welcome additional edge. Adam’s vocals are almost conversational rather than sung, and the track builds towards the end with the guitars becoming more prominent before fading away to leave us with the simple bass we had in the introduction.
I loved Watching You Watching Me, a track about unrequited love, of someone watching someone suffer but unable to do what they want to do, and help “I could never stand the sight of you in distress, I’ve been watching you watching me”. The highlight here for me, once again is the wonderful dirty bass segment in the middle from Andy Keating.
The pace changes with the swirling, atmospheric synth tone introduction of The Waves almost etherial…. It drifting over you, well… like waves. It kind of has a feel of being underwater reflecting the subject matter of depression and medication so well “I’m still out at sea… time washes over me”…. “I’ve been wrong before, ill be wrong again before my days are through” As it moves on the track switches it up, as the guitars/bass/drums join, with a more rock like feel. You’d think the two wouldn’t go well together, but it works really well.
Written against a political backdrop that witnessed Manchester and Westminster locking horns over lockdown provisions, Extreme Greed with its industrial synth-pop punch is another heavy hitter where the rhythm section dominates creating a full sound.
“Who are we now if not ourselves?” The track grows, the synths becoming more dominant as it builds to an almost scream like crescendo.
Rhythmic bass gives way to classic Architecture style synth lines in It stops when it starts. Again, Andy’s bass playing is a feature of IST IST and a core element of their sound for me. Its great to see the bass a more dominant element of tracks not just a rhythmic undercurrent as it’s so often used.
I had quite a surprise with If It Tastes Like Wine, a track with a political undertone again like Extreme Greed but with a different feel to the rest of the album. Guitar driven with repeated strummed chords forming the key structure, the vocals have a different feel to them as well, showing a diversity of skills for Adam. I l loved the line “If it tastes like wine, it probably is” lol
Mid way we get another wonderful bass interlude leading into a crisp guitar section. The track is slower and bright/clear. One of my favourite tracks.
But we move on to my absolute favourite track ion this new album, Heads on Spikes. I loved the vocals on this one, and their almost disjointed delivery style, Adam pausing before the final word of each line. It gives the track a very different and dramatic feel. With short sharp guitar riffs between lines in the chorus which complete the feel of the track.
And finally we get to the end, and what an ending we have here ! Don’t go gentle is spine-tingling, an emotionally charged closer about saving a young woman from suicide. Paying reference to Dylan Thomas’ immortal ‘Do not go gentle into that good night’, its complex arrangements and tender lyricism show just how far IST IST have grown over the years.
It starts with a soft synth driven sonic experience, something like a lullaby. Like with The Waves, I was expecting the track to explode into life with guitar riffs and heavy bass…….. but no….. it never materialises….. it stays soft and gentle, swirling round you. I loved the juxtaposition/sonic irony between pace/presence and meaning……. “Don’t go gentle…. Rage against the day” delivered in a very slow, calm, measured way……. The end fades away almost Bladerunner like into the abyss….. leaving me like WOW
Truly spine-tingling……….
So, what do we think of it ?
Well, “Architecture” was brilliant. I loved it as an album and still play it regularly. I have to be honest and say, I was worried about “The Art of Lying”….. IST IST have a particular ‘sound’ and would it just be more of the same ?...... dare I say it……. Boring ?
Well I shouldn’t have worried. “The Art of Lying” is a fantastic second album. There are elements of “Architecture” here, but they’ve mixed things up brilliantly. The addition of the backing vocals works brilliantly, particularly in Watching You Watching Me and I loved the more synth driven opener Listening Through the Walls and the fantastic, almost disjointed vocal styling of Heads on Spikes, and then we have the final track Don’t Go Gentle….. just wow.
The album has hard loud guitar sections, wonderful dirty bass and soft emotive synth driven sections, all joined together with the unique vocal baritone sound of Adam Houghton.
Another fantastic release from IST IST. I love it. I’ve been listening to it for a week now, and still can’t decide if I like it more than Architecture. But that’s no bad thing, they’re both excellent albums.
A fantastic 9.5 from LiveWire and a keeper.
Right on the back of the new album, IST IST start their UK tour tonight at the Bootleg Social in Blackpool. With a sold out show at the Trades Club in Hebden Bridge, plus a hometown show at Manchester Academy 2, make sure to catch the band at the following dates:
IST IST Winter Tour 2021
NOVEMBER
26 – BLACKPOOL, Bootleg Social
28 – HEBDEN BRIDGE, The Trades Club [SOLD OUT]
DECEMBER
1 – BIRMINGHAM, Dead Wax
2 – LONDON, Camden Assembly
3 – BRISTOL, The Louisiana
4 – NOTTINGHAM, Bodega
8 – LEEDS, Hyde Park Book Club
9 – GLASGOW, Broadcast
10 – SHEFFIELD, Record Junkee
11 – MANCHESTER, Academy 2
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