Yes! There was one track towards the end that was a dead ringer for Junior Boys. I wasn't that hot on "Dream On" as a single but it flows very well in the album
― Vinnie, Saturday, 23 April 2022 15:11 (two years ago) link
lol ya i buy this as second incarnation of last exit on some level, the cringe being a critical element (saying this as an unabashed last exit stan).
the stuff i like most here is pulling the thread of Three Words by way of Summer's Last Sound. Dolphin Junction is a current highlight.
i was curious about their live sound too and found this set from lockdown. it sounds great! better than i expected for some reason: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGhAB7ibGi0
― anza808, Sunday, 24 April 2022 00:56 (two years ago) link
oh no that don’t have a dude that sings like the junior boys guy now do they?
― brimstead, Sunday, 24 April 2022 02:49 (two years ago) link
(Haven’t heard the album yet)
"The Carousel" is the one I was thinking of: very Junior Boys sounding, and yes it has singing, not sure who's doing it
I missed a lot of the lead-up songs to this album so I'm only just realizing how amazing "Your Guiding Hand" is, it's buried near the end. overall, an incredible album
― Vinnie, Monday, 25 April 2022 11:13 (two years ago) link
Really enjoyed first listen of the album with 'An Oral History...' and 'Dolphin Junction' standing out a little but solid all through. Worth the wait.
― nashwan, Monday, 25 April 2022 11:44 (two years ago) link
there are lots of highlights in the back half, i don’t really feel like anything is buried
― in places all over the world, real stuff be happening (voodoo chili), Monday, 25 April 2022 12:51 (two years ago) link
Yeah wrong choice of words on my part. I mean to say I was so taken with the front half on the first couple listens that I didn't pay as much attention to the back half, which is also quite good
― Vinnie, Monday, 25 April 2022 12:59 (two years ago) link
no doubt, it’s all great, i do think that my favorite not -single moments are on the back half, like “dolphin junction” and “your guiding hand.” “dicaprio” is pretty good too, love how it transitions from compelling cool down to m83-style bombast
― in places all over the world, real stuff be happening (voodoo chili), Monday, 25 April 2022 14:07 (two years ago) link
fairly certain DiCaprio lifts this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1GieXvZuq4
― anza808, Monday, 25 April 2022 17:58 (two years ago) link
I deliberately mostly avoided the singles to wait for the album, so this is hitting me all at once. Amazing album.
― toby, Wednesday, 27 April 2022 00:47 (two years ago) link
It's hard to put into words just how much I love the moment when the beat kicks in on Dream On. It makes me so happy.
Also really obsessed with An Oral History Of My First Kiss, especially the backing vocals which give me Steal My Sunshine vibes.
Perfect album. Probably my favourite of the decade so far.
― kitchen person, Wednesday, 27 April 2022 01:39 (two years ago) link
talking of things that sound like real lies, i ventured into spotify's real lies artist radio today to see what the algorhithm would throw up and there seem to be quite few newish uk acts who have the same sort of thing going on but - and i'm not going to name names here cos everyone likes their own thing - but a lot of them seemed pretty dreadful to me.
I've always wondered whether there's a sprinkling of personal algorithms in those artist radios because my Real Lies one is pretty decent although filled with stuff I already listen to like Charlotte Adigery, Bullion, Hard Feelings, Anz, Joy Orbison etc
― groovypanda, Wednesday, 27 April 2022 11:05 (two years ago) link
I had the opposite experience - after this album it played Flaurese, St Jude, Lawrence Hart, HAAi, Nabihah Iqbal, Working Mens Club - all good to great.
― nashwan, Wednesday, 27 April 2022 11:33 (two years ago) link
That Nabibah Iqbal song is so good if it's the one I think it is
― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Wednesday, 27 April 2022 14:25 (two years ago) link
I'm obsessed with An Oral History Of My First Kiss, too, and with DeCaprio, in particular "Do you remember? That second Nessun Dorma summer..."
― toby, Wednesday, 27 April 2022 15:48 (two years ago) link
I'm a bit disappointed to see this hasn't been reviewed many places yet. It deserves a lot more coverage.
― kitchen person, Wednesday, 27 April 2022 17:20 (two years ago) link
If anyone wants to commission me please do, I have a LOT of feelings about this album
― boxedjoy, Wednesday, 27 April 2022 18:03 (two years ago) link
did the guy burn some bridges working in editorial? bad pr team? unlikeable people? all the above? genuinely surprised at this getting so little coverage
― anza808, Thursday, 28 April 2022 11:15 (two years ago) link
“I felt like I was part of something” pic.twitter.com/VCmWchV69I— Real Lies (@_real_lies) April 27, 2022
― groovypanda, Thursday, 28 April 2022 11:41 (two years ago) link
it's kind of confusing bc p4k gave an early single from 2014 bnm and then didn't even review the first album
it looks like lad ash was just self-released though so that + it's been 7 years since their debut, which didn't really do well enough to get them much of a critical following or anything, means i guess it's pretty easy for them to fall through the gaps
― ufo, Thursday, 28 April 2022 11:48 (two years ago) link
I think as well that their style of music is so untrendy right now in a lot of ways - yes, they're drawing from dance music and its culture, but it's not the "cool" end, it's big-room Underworld-style sounds of yesteryear. The laddishness could have put them in that thread of naff UK bands with "swagger of Oasis" and it's easy to mistake that lack of finesse and polish for deliberate machismo posturing if you're not paying close attention. The disarming sincerity and vulnerability is at odds with the artfulness of a lot of contemporary indie too. I think the reason they stand out is that they feel so singular and unique in what they do, as much as they excel at what they're aiming for. But that's what makes them a difficult proposition to sell - there's not really any major current trends they align with.
― boxedjoy, Thursday, 28 April 2022 12:10 (two years ago) link
I would definitely have pitched a review if I still wrote for p4k.
I agree with boxedjoy's take above, though would perhaps say (not that this contradicts boxedjoy's point) that maybe part of the problem is that, if you're not paying attention, they can be boxed too easily as "West End Girls" as produced by Underworld (or some variant or equivalent) - not so much "I don't get it" as "I get it too easily and there's nothing more there to get, to grapple with". I doubt many if any people find them either perplexing or hateful, but I could imagine a lot of shrugged shoulders and "why should I care?"
Or to put it more simply, I am surprised that there is no post above, perhaps from imago (or turrican if they were still around?) dismissing Real Lies as pleasant but ultimately unimaginative, derivative music for norms.
"You Guiding Hand" was excellent as a standalone single but it works even better in the context of the album, the pummelling kickdrum section (vaguely reminiscent of "Born Slippy") is like a final blast of ravey euphoria before the album winds down.
― Tim F, Friday, 29 April 2022 03:56 (two years ago) link
I think as well that their style of music is so untrendy right now in a lot of ways
an obvious comparison as far as recent acts go is for those i love, who's gotten a fair bit of attention & acclaim in the uk press lately doing a pretty similar spoken-word-over-moody-dance-music thing but he's really nowhere near as compelling as real lies
real lies obviously aren't innovating but they've distilled down their influences really really well, captured that melancholic uk late night vibe as well as anyone ever has. the album's pretty wide-ranging too within that vibe
think the lack of backlash so far is partly because they have pretty much no hype in the press or anything
― ufo, Friday, 29 April 2022 04:30 (two years ago) link
the one For Those I Love track I've heard was terrible, the example of how to do this sort of thing really badly
― boxedjoy, Friday, 29 April 2022 08:17 (two years ago) link
yeah i did not get the hype there at all
― ufo, Friday, 29 April 2022 08:52 (two years ago) link
Can't remember the last time I played an album as much as I have this one in the last week. Got tickets to see them in November and can't wait
― groovypanda, Friday, 29 April 2022 09:41 (two years ago) link
They're a lot of fun live - saw them in Salford a few weeks back and while they were hampered by technical glitches, once those were fixed it was really good. Guest vocalists and dancers!
Concur with all the praise for the album, the new tracks easily stand up to the previously released tracks.
― Twelves, Friday, 29 April 2022 11:09 (two years ago) link
seeing them tomorrow for the second time in six months, even more excited because I know what to expect (and this time insisting on pals coming rather than going alone)
― boxedjoy, Friday, 29 April 2022 11:27 (two years ago) link
have fun boxedjoy, hope you have a beautiful night out!
― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Friday, 29 April 2022 12:45 (two years ago) link
Lad Ash has crashed into the Official UK Album (Downloads) Chart Top 100 at #85!!! (which probably equates to about 40 actual purchases)
― technopolis, Friday, 29 April 2022 18:09 (two years ago) link
Plus: an actual review! Great stuff from tQ: https://thequietus.com/articles/31453-real-lies-lad-ash-review
― technopolis, Friday, 29 April 2022 19:38 (two years ago) link
that's a nice review
― the cat needs to start paying for its own cbd (map), Friday, 29 April 2022 20:23 (two years ago) link
Looks like it will be amazing boxedjoy xps
Still coming down from @_real_lies last night 🌹 🕊 pic.twitter.com/mwcamygrBu— Nick Levine (@nicklevine) April 29, 2022
― groovypanda, Friday, 29 April 2022 20:32 (two years ago) link
i don't want to wish the whole summer away but their brighton date in october can't come quickly enough
― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Friday, 29 April 2022 20:36 (two years ago) link
I'll be at the Glasgow show tomorrow too, first gig post covid
― ignore the blue line (or something), Friday, 29 April 2022 21:31 (two years ago) link
v jealous of y'all getting to see them. album totally kills
― karl...arlk...rlka...lkar..., Friday, 29 April 2022 21:33 (two years ago) link
Mini ilx fap imminent!
― boxedjoy, Saturday, 30 April 2022 00:20 (two years ago) link
gig was incredible, tho i am deaf in one ear now. was funny to see Kevin Kharas queuing up at the bar for a beer just before they came on. And the girl who sings on Nicotine Patch spent the show dancing just next to us. Intimate no frills show, proper rave atmosphere
― ignore the blue line (or something), Sunday, 1 May 2022 12:29 (two years ago) link
even better than last time I saw them, best band in the world right now, bliss to be alive
― boxedjoy, Monday, 2 May 2022 09:45 (two years ago) link
<3<3<3
― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Monday, 2 May 2022 09:53 (two years ago) link
ty boxedjoy and tim f for helping me codify my thoughts about this band. deeply uncool as very cool is a funny and interesting take, somehow extremely accurate in my brainspace.
― Xii, Monday, 2 May 2022 16:02 (two years ago) link
Still listening daily.
Album of the year
― groovypanda, Friday, 13 May 2022 08:54 (two years ago) link
Also this (starts 66 minutes in):
We were live in session on @BBCR1 last night. Listen back now https://t.co/TZDWIADvBN pic.twitter.com/vssnBshrAx— Real Lies (@_real_lies) May 11, 2022
― groovypanda, Friday, 13 May 2022 09:06 (two years ago) link
on tour 2022, tickets on sale now https://t.co/ITyxrltlQc 🕊🌹⚡️ https://t.co/C5UZPBiRzG— Real Lies (@_real_lies) June 16, 2022
really guilty lol at this
― boxedjoy, Tuesday, 28 June 2022 21:21 (one year ago) link
also over the weekend I had the lads round - as in, the friends I have who are proper lads - and we put this on at the tail end of the night's shenanigans and it seemed to really strike even more of a chord in that context. This feels like such a classic already.
― boxedjoy, Tuesday, 28 June 2022 21:24 (one year ago) link
got a ticket for the London show
― nashwan, Tuesday, 28 June 2022 21:50 (one year ago) link
they can be boxed too easily as "West End Girls" as produced by Underworld (or some variant or equivalent) - not so much "I don't get it" as "I get it too easily and there's nothing more there to get, to grapple with". I doubt many if any people find them either perplexing or hateful, but I could imagine a lot of shrugged shoulders and "why should I care?"― Tim F, Friday, April 29, 2022 5:56 AM (two months ago) bookmarkflaglink
The thing is that Underworld-produced romantic synthpop, is a fantastic proposal. The pinch of French House, strong British accent, touches of sophistic-pop may all offer their soft belly for cruel spears, but you know, kill them with kindness. In today's set-up, quick dismissals are their own true collateral. Anyway, I'm late to the party, but add one voice behind this innocent and charming album.
― Nabozo, Saturday, 2 July 2022 19:33 (one year ago) link
Still rinsing the absolute fuck out of this album. Honestly can't remember the last time an album struck such a chord with me as this one has. They've been teasing new music soon too on Instagram so looking forward to that.
― groovypanda, Sunday, 3 July 2022 16:25 (one year ago) link
xpost don’t get me wrong, I love this album.
― Tim F, Sunday, 3 July 2022 21:06 (one year ago) link