Tangk

by Idles

Overview

Looking to further buck their own trends -- their previous albums have been a series of highs with moments of respite -- Idles have gone for a more subdued, heartfelt approach with the occasional sting of an upper cut on their fifth album, Tangk. Their lower-tempo tunes have often been highlights on previous albums -- Crawler's "The Beachland Ballroom" and Ultra Mono's "A Hymn" are prime examples -- but on Tangk, most of their efforts are genuinely affecting, serving to highlight their more adrenaline-fueled tendencies. Nigel Godrich's influence can be felt early on, as the opening track "IDEA 01" is almost a cheeky wink to his legacy with Radiohead. A series of gliding pianos creates a decent atmosphere, and the song closes with Talbot's best attempt at falsetto, which isn't a slight in the slightest. It's an effective table-setter, hinting at the hidden depths Idles have often achieved. They then shift gears into "Gift Horse," which ticks a lot of boxes in the Idles playbook. Although this is a veiled commentary on the U.K. monarchy, Talbot focuses more on wordplay than clarity -- featuring his best one-liner, with "looking long in the gold tooth." The album then veers into midtempo territory, which is clearly what they were aiming for. "POP POP POP" is just the first example of this mindset, however, as "Roy" achieves this goal to far greater effect, showcasing the contrast between Talbot's zaniness and his genuine emotions. The album delivers on "Dancer" with a chorus that works better than it has any right to, given how busy it becomes. The back half of the album generally feels slower, exploring the new ideas that Idles are playing with. The slower numbers plumb new emotional depths for the band, and often give way to spurts of energy. Eschewing their usual explosive closer for the meandering soundscape of "Monolith" is a bold move in their world, yet another way they reverse expectations -- they clearly want to showcase a broader range of emotions than just righteous anger. Taken in the context of the group's discography, this gives them more options to slam the breaks on, and the frequency with which it happens here means that the engine is kept at a steady hum. This makes Tangk a far more restrained listening experience, a middle ground that Idles haven't displayed until now. ~ Liam Martin

Product Details

Release Date:	02/16/2024
Label:	Partisan
UPC:	0720841304135

Tracks

1. IDEA 01
2. Gift Horse
3. POP POP POP
4. Roy
5. A Gospel
6. Dancer
7. Grace
8. Hall & Oates
9. Jungle
10. Gratitude
11. Monolith

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Idles   Primary Artist
James Murphy   Vocals
Aaron Paris   Strings
Nancy Whang   Vocals
Colin Webster   Saxophone

Technical Credits

Nigel Godrich   Mixing,Producer
Korey Richey   Engineer
Mikko Gordon   Engineer,Additional Production
Mark Bowen   Producer
Kenny Beats   Producer
Aaron Paris   String Arrangements
Idles   Composer
Bob Ludwig   Mastering
Joshua Hughes-Games   Artwork,Design
Cassidy Rose Hill   Design
Aris Chatman   Photography
Maurice Talbot   Assistant Engineer
Daniel Cayotte   Assistant Engineer
Joe Talbot   Artwork,Design