"I felt like I was part of something" a thread for Real Lies

If anyone wants to commission me please do, I have a LOT of feelings about this album

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

“I felt like I was part of something” pic.twitter.com/VCmWchV69I

— Real Lies (@_real_lies) April 27, 2022

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

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.

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.

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

the one For Those I Love track I've heard was terrible, the example of how to do this sort of thing really badly

yeah i did not get the hype there at all

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

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.

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)

have fun boxedjoy, hope you have a beautiful night out!

Lad Ash has crashed into the Official UK Album (Downloads) Chart Top 100 at #85!!! (which probably equates to about 40 actual purchases)

Plus: an actual review! Great stuff from tQ: https://thequietus.com/articles/31453-real-lies-lad-ash-review

that's a nice review

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

i don't want to wish the whole summer away but their brighton date in october can't come quickly enough

I'll be at the Glasgow show tomorrow too, first gig post covid

v jealous of y'all getting to see them. album totally kills

Mini ilx fap imminent!

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

even better than last time I saw them, best band in the world right now, bliss to be alive

<3<3<3

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.

Still listening daily.

Album of the year

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

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

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.

got a ticket for the London show

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.

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.

xpost don’t get me wrong, I love this album.

xpost don’t get me wrong, I love this album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3dMRdZ5HhI

feels like it was designed in a lab to appeal to my exact tastes

Yeah, it's a great remix. Original might be my song of the year so far. Every single time Kev gets to the "all my friends with the same crest upon their chest" line I levitate. He sounds...completely ecstatic?

Real Lies: a band so good I bought the scarf.

something wicked this way comes 👀 live at midnight https://t.co/jRrimOnu24 https://t.co/0VaTNgrrxD

— Real Lies (@_real_lies) September 1, 2022

New song!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9-9Ljpcs1I

This is massive.

yeah, one of patrice's best productions yet i think, and that video is perfect too, a rattling journey full-tilt into the darkness. bummer it wasnt on the album tbh

am i alone in hearing echoes of 'no good' in it?

No, albeit that “echoes of ‘no good’” could describe a decent chunk of dance music from the last few years.

haha true

this rules

description says "first part of an epilogue" to lad ash, so there's more coming

Yeah they posted this on IG:
One of two songs from the world of that record that we want to put out before we put it to bed and move on with our lives.

Then finished it off with
it's also a fucking banger.
❤️‍🔥

"This has been the best night of my life."

Kev, earlier

These guys. Every time!

That's definitely something you should say on every night of the tour.

Gig was a blast tho - my first since covid too to echo or something up thread. Funny to see Patrice come out first to a reverb-drenched edit of Roy Orbison's 'You Got It' of all things while throwing OTT DJ poses. It went properly OFF for Since I, North Circular (segue from Lonely Ones into this was glorious) and the final trifecta (Dream On, Boss Trick, YGH). The threadbare setup is probably part of the charm really altho I always want background visuals to support this kind of music. Would've been fun to hear a few more of the older tracks too but can't fault 'em really. I see the sets from earlier this year did not seem to include 'An Oral History...' so thrilled that made it in towards the end.

really did want to go to that but i'm broke, but super glad it was good!

So happy to finally get this on vinyl a full three months earlier than the predicted release date. Sounds and looks beautiful and so cool to have the bonus tracks on there.