- 1/1 marks a change of pace for Liars. Not only are these recordings the group’s first foray into the world of soundtracks, they also represent the last collaboration between members Angus Andrew and Aaron Hemphill, after the latter’s departure last year. The band have been steadily outgrowing their experimental rock origins for over a decade now, recently expanding into punk-like electronic explorations with their LPs.
This release ventures further through that territory, consisting primarily of moody, dark ambient soundscapes and overbearing electro-industrial sections. 1/1 is intended as a companion piece to the film of the same name, the directorial debut for writer Jeremy Phillips. The band reportedly haven’t watched it yet, instead drawing inspiration from the script, as well as a variety of emotional cues provided by Phillips himself. What results is a project that holds up remarkably well, even without the source material.
I’m strongly reminded of Xiu Xiu’s 2016 tribute to the Music of Twin Peaks, a holistic re-interpretation of the series which eschewed sonic tradition in favour of capturing its emotional atmosphere. What Liars do here is similar, brief auditory vignettes and a hazy mixture of emotions on display.
Case in point, Helsingor Lane, a dreary introduction to the album’s cinematic world. Droll vocal passages and lazily plucked guitars accompany an oppressively atmospheric backdrop that reeks of despair. In the moment it’s meandering, but subtle blasts of noise creeping into the back half suggest tragedy far beyond what’s being presented. This compositional depth makes it easy to get a sense of the greater picture by simply skimming through each trach.
Though this persistent quest for atmosphere can also hinder the record’s immediacy, with some cuts being so brief they can feel like short glimpses into a larger contextual framework. While the band’s ability to conjure sonic snapshots of fictional occurrences is admirable, I can’t help but wish some of the ideas here were fleshed out further into something more developed and complete. Electronic-heavy tracks like Liquorice or Caused By The Pitch do a great job of maintaining momentum and instantly grabbing my attention, but often lack the conceptuality found in more subdued moments.
If no one had told me 1/1 was a soundtrack, I would have chalked this new sound up to Liars’ love for experimentation. Nearly ten albums in, I’m still surprised at the band’s ability to further stretch their creative capabilities and have it turn out so well. While I don’t feel this release holds up to the high points found on recent albums, it’s still a remarkably diverse collection of sounds and styles that acts as a fitting conclusion to this latest chapter in Liars’ career. If you’ve followed the group this far, their new direction here won’t disappoint. The real question is what comes next.
- Boddhi Farmer.