Wild Beasts - Limbo Panto

I listened to Limbo just the other day and it was just as much of a thrill as it was in 2008. I feel like it's more the band themselves that see it that way than the actual critics. They now only seem to play Devil's Crayon live from that album anymore. They seem to take themselves too seriously these days to remember that a lot of their fans love that album. Kind of reminds me of Elbow who seemed to give up playing anything from their first three albums (when they were actually kind of an interesting band) when they made it big with that fourth album. Thinking about it for a band that made a first album like Limbo Panto that had those influences you mentioned (add in some Sparks and Associates too) it's kind of sad they actually sound more like Elbow these days and are continuing down that Talk Talk route more and more with each album. Don't get me wrong Talk Talk are one of my favourite bands ever but it's just not that much of an original influence anymore or one I can get excited about. These New Puritans did it and even bloody Brett Anderson did it on one of his solo albums. Bring back the pomp I say.

What no one seems to remember / use from TT's later day period is the noise and catharsis of some of it; it's all very well doing beautiful, but there's some fucking thundering drums and gnarly guitar on SoE and LS that people are forgetting.

It actually took me ages to get round to listening to Talk Talk just because so much of the stuff that gets compared to them is really boring. I was shocked by the unboringness of TT when I did listen.

Bark Psychosis are about the only act who used the dynamics and noise of TT.

Yeah, it's amazing how many times Talk Talk are cited as an influence on something and I'm like "really? this?" Bon Iver being a recent-ish example.

What no one seems to remember / use from TT's later day period is the noise and catharsis of some of it; it's all very well doing beautiful, but there's some fucking thundering drums and gnarly guitar on SoE and LS that people are forgetting.

― the drummer is a monster (Scik Mouthy)

Yeah this is a good point about Talk Talk. I'd love some of that noise on Present Tense.

I'm trying to remember who were the best band to be compared to late Talk Talk. I've no idea what the reviews of Hex said at the time and if the band mentioned them as an influence. I think one of the earliest ones I remember is that first Doves album, which is still a better album than anything Elbow have put out.

I think These New Puritans have enough ugliness and noise in their music to justify it, especially Hidden.

I meant to say first band not best band by the way.

Ulver are the band who hit the most Talk Talk pleasure points for me now

Heads up UKers - this is 99p for the whole album on Google Play this weekend:

https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Wild_Beasts_Present_Tense?id=Bak64ujt7lkuebwyz2m7vrfd6iy

Can we remove the limbo panto bit from the thread title?

This B-side from the Wanderlust EP is probably as good, if not better, than anything on the actual album. Shame they left it out, though it's a bit more electronic in feel than anything they've ever done so I understand why they relegated it to B-side status. I'd love to get a whole album of this kind of material though. It kinda reminds me a bit of that Jon Hopkins album from last year and I know Hayden has collaborated with him so I wonder if their meeting rubbed off on him to result in this song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sA6hBn4UBw

They've got a good crop of b-sides, actually. Thankless Thing is wonderful.

Agreed. "Stray" is good too.

'Through the Iron Gate' and 'Catherine Wheel' are big favorites of mines as well. I was going to make up a Wild Beasts B-Sides CD-R recently in fact but wanted to hold off until I could get 'Byzantine' to add.

Anyone else heard the Factory Floor and Field remixes of Wanderlust?

Junior Boys remix/cover of 'Fun Powder Plot' is brilliant as well. Better than the original? Probably scandalous to suggest that but it's not far of.

just saw them live and they were great, and wanderlust and sweet spot were two highlights of the night

This new LP is dope maybe even if you're not an indie fuxx0r.

they've really scaled up the Kate Bush influence though - "Mecca" in partic is straight up Dreaming era material

I like the way the first half kind of plays like an ambient record and then... Things get more kinetic? It's backloaded nicely. Never heard these guys, before. I'm gonna have to check out their earlier stuff huh.

I am not usually a fan of remixes but this is really terrific:

https://soundcloud.com/dominorecordco/wild-beasts-a-simple

http://devonrecordclub.com/2014/04/05/wild-beasts-present-tense-round-64-nicks-choice/

I even like "Pregnant Pause" now.

no clue who this remixer is, but i'm feeling this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EeInXpAcfY

always like that shuffley shit

So the Beasts released "Mecca" as a single with a couple of remixes by Sohn and Juan Atkins. They're ok but not as impressive as the "Simple Beautiful Truth" remixes.

They came to Seoul last night, finally giving me an opportunity to catch their live show. Fantastic performance, front-loaded with new stuff.

While pondering when their next album will appear, I found they've released some more remixes including these:

https://soundcloud.com/dominorecordco/wild-beasts-palace-foals-remix
https://soundcloud.com/stevemoore2600/wild-beasts-palace-steve-moore-remix
https://soundcloud.com/dominorecordco/wild-beasts-woebegone-wanderers-ii

Is there an argument to be made that they are NOT the best band of the last ten years? They are better than basically any band you can compare them to, past or present.

I love them to bits but some idiot bit of my brain says that can't possibly be the case. Then again, I can't think of anyone comparable who's any better.

https://youtu.be/8nkdZhFzglA

Album 'Boy King' out 5th August 2016!

Wasn't at all sure about this new song at first, but it's growing on me ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nkdZhFzglA

not sure i can face another disappointing Wild Beasts album. first album was incredible but they got steadily less interesting and the whole thing seemed to fall off a cliff after Smother. came across the very first 2 EPs/demos recently and loved those.

^ Agree with this. Totally mystifying the direction they took after the first record.

Yeah, I agree with that too. Limbo Panto is still my favourite of their albums. I loved the direction they took on Two Dancers but they've not developed since. I liked Smother a lot when it came out but the last time I listened to it, it didn't do that much for me. I was baffled by the great reaction Present Tense got. There was nothing interesting about it at all. I couldn't believe it was the first of their albums to make the ILM end of year albums list.

Get My Bang doesn't seem to go anywhere. This is the first time I have no real interest in one of their albums. I still wish they'd bring back the pomp and charm of Limbo Panto.

am in the same camp as the last 3 posts. currently trending on uk twitter, didn't realise that many people gave a shit tbh. happy for them but eh whatevs

Surprised by the consensus here. I felt these guys get better after Limbo Panto. I did not spend as much time with Future Tense as with the others but I was musically elsewhere when that came out. Still a blast to see live.

Video is very "The Way You Make Me Feel"

the fuck is with that album cover

according to iTunes, his has a 20-minute bonus track, which seems...out of character.

jesus that song/video :/

So they're going for a more pop vibe. Let's see how it plays out, I still love everything they've done.

I'm all for them going in a pop direction but they need to remember the tunes. Get My Bang is probably my least favourite song they've done.

I really like the song n general, still trying to get my head around that title/hook tho

sounds like hot chip

last track on the anohni album reminds me of early wild beasts

I don't mind the new single, but I also hope it's a red herring

(xpost) Yeah - I got a Hot Chip feel from it too!

it's the backing vocals that made me first think that

Strongly disagree about Limbo Panto. Much prefer the way they handled their pompous tendencies on Two Dancers and Smother. Present Tense had good ideas but it's not as great imo.

otm Listened to Two Dancers again some days ago and for the time it is playing it really convinces you to be one of the finest albums of recent years. Such a well-balanced and constantly high level of songwriting and production.