Album Review: The Lounge Society - ‘Tired of Liberty’.
The Lounge Society set the post-punk scene alight with a cracking barrage of ethereal fire on debut album ‘Tired of Liberty’.
After their single Generation Game was released on the acclaimed Speedy Wunderground compilation in 2020, plenty of talk gathered around The Lounge Society, who were still in their teens at the time of its release. Highlighting a mix of youthful energy and adrenaline with unique influences such as The Velvet Underground and Talking Heads made them an instant favourite as “ones to watch”.
With production from Dan Carey, an expert in producing memorable avant-garde debut albums with past releases like black midi’s “Schlagenheim” in 2019, Squid’s “Bright Green Field” in 2021 and most recently Wet Leg’s self-titled which ranked at #1 in the UK following its release, it seems almost inevitable that “Tired of Liberty” will be just as fun and exciting.
It is more than that. It is an engaging ever-changing cacophonous yet ravishing landscape filled with themes of modern world anxiety, political issues, feelings of alienation, corruption and greed. It is a gift that keeps giving, with no signs of letting loose the consuming grip it holds from its very beginning. Be heedful, The Lounge Society are in town, and there is no escape from their entrancing sound.
The album kicks off with absorbing guitar tones spread across the stereo with confounding tempo changes looming around each section, fitting the themes of anxiety and uneasiness narrated. A wild depth of textures and sounds is immediately evident, with each instrument sounding as full and enthralling as they do on Carey’s past involvements. “Blood Money” displays an innovative post- punk sound, with heavenly spatial depth in its chorus as the lulling reverb structure is backed by neat backing vocals.
In many instances each side of the stereo could be perceived as two entirely different songs, as the guitar tracks take wildly different paths whilst still maintaining a tangible grip on the blazing rhythm section which burns through the lower end of the mix. Synth sounds reminiscent of releases from over 30 years ago come into full display on “Beneath The Screen”, a track with substantial instrumental depth which gathers a colossal amount of steam before turning into a fiery explosion towards its end.
Halfway through the record and it’s already clear how vast of a statement the West Yorkshire band has made, something which truly brings together their influences into a sound that is unique and precious. An intense exhibition of incalculable and ecstatic energy which deserves to be put in the same ranks as other greats from the genre, such as Gang of Four and The Fall.
The rhythm sections throughout this journey show a level of proficiency very rarely seen before, to a level which sounds almost robotic, a testament to both the superb standards of production and mind-blowing talent that everyone involved has amassed. The drumming skills are most evident in track “Boredom Is A Drug”, a fast-paced piece filled with exceptional fills which allow the rest of the band members to shine through with unique patterns of flow and zest.
As the vehemence of the band slows down towards the end of the album the momentum never does, as they put on view their wide variety of range going from spectacles tantamount to raging avalanches at inconsiderable speeds to a scene evocative of a slow walk out in the sun, winding you down from the fever dream you experience up to this point. Standout lyrics such as “There’s a generation staring down the barrel of a gun/ You will never find them on the cover of The Sun” evoke the struggles faced in the UK as another election looms, and the youthful resistance to the people leading the country.
Something truly special was created here, and it is not at all inconceivable that The Lounge Society will find heaps more popularity as we near the end of the summer of 2022. Available on the 26th of August via Speedy Wunderground, you will not want to give this one a miss.
Words by Jay Cohen
