Album Review: This Mirror Weighs a Ton by Interpol
Album artwork for This Mirror Weighs A Ton by Interpol
With a discography as expansive and deep as Interpol it’s remarkable to hear them translate their post-punk and British alt-rock roots into something that feels novel, nostalgic yet unexplored. Interpol have always excelled at the melancholic and cryptic yet “This Mirror Weighs a Ton” takes on a more refined production that conveys the moodiness we all know from vocalist Paul Banks’ lyrics and delivery uncomfortably well, in that each track feels like a sermon and Banks’ voice lingers like a ghost before vanishing to leave you with your thoughts. It’s heavy, not in sound but in density. The mirror truly does weigh a ton. Metaphorically and quite literally.
The mild-mannered aggression of past releases has been stripped away to make way for something that feels darker. Influence of Massive Attack peacocks front and centre in the opening title track. Both minimal and moreish, a growing feeling of morose idles as Interpol embark on a similar tale to another long-serving band, Converge, who this year released two albums that focused heavily on self-reflection and ageing. Despite the sonic differences, both bands are later into their career and to reach a point where common ground like this can be found is cathartic and refreshing to hear the same subject matter presented in a different way.
Moving onward, Wings of Fire displays a gloomy elegance we’ve seen moments of in earlier tracks but said elegance has a swagger to it. A leering confidence that plays into Banks’ effortless means of storytelling. The bitcrusher introduction of So Rides the Reindeer and its quiet amongst the chaos approach as a turbulent organ plays in the background. The infectious head-bobbing of Darling Thoughts and the seasoned Britpop bass licks of Wake Up that you’ve sworn you’ve heard before on a FIFA soundtrack from your youth. The mindful switch-up to introspection and lyrical weight over curated vocal hooks and driving guitars will draw criticisms from long-time fans as the band pursues more reflective and immersive soundscapes however, “This Mirror Weighs a Ton” shows Banks in a more restrained light which if anything elevates him personally as an artist and gives way for other elements to shine.
It’s hard to describe without some sort of visual representation to do it justice. “This Mirror Weighs a Ton” feels like swimming with concrete shoes on and your chin is just above the surface. It feels like climbing a staircase with full hands and knowing you’re going to need to fish your keys out your pocket soon. It’s an immensely atmospheric and well-put together record that after each listen you can’t help but kick yourself for missing how slightly off-key but warm the vocal harmonies in Iron City are, or how decadent the endless number of layers the violins and strings add toward the end of Ever The Actor the first time round. It’s somewhat timeless in it’s replay-ability.
From the three singles already released, a flavour of the album is given but it is the most minuscule of tastes you could ever imagine. A moody, expertly textured piece that’ll take time to click with those that have clung to the beginning of Interpol’s journey since “Turn on the Bright Lights” but once it clicks, damn does this record click.
FFO: Echo & The Bunnymen, Editors, The XX, Alt-J, Joy Division
SCORE: 9/10
This Mirror Weighs A Ton is out on all streaming platforms on Friday 28th August, released via Partisan Records.
