Sisterworld

The fifth album from art-rockers Liars is a record that broods sublimely, its 11 tracks casting deep shadows. There is no grand conceptual theme save a vague sense of alienation – which seems to encapsulate both the estrangement that individuals feel from modern society and the disaffection Liars feel from the music industry.

The sounds emanating from this album are at some remove from the current, often flagrantly abrasive, trends. ‘Scissor’ opens with a meditative hum, dabs of cello creating an air of reverence.

It is only temporary. Soon drum beats are exploding like shrapnel as Angus Andrew lets his devil dog howl off the leash. Indeed something menacing seems to lurk in each track’s dark recesses, be it the twinkling chimes of ‘No Barrier Fun’, or the dread-infected pleadings of Young on ‘Drop Dead’. Elsewhere, the mechanised roar of ‘Scarecrows On A Killer Slant’ recalls Nine Inch Nails, whilst ‘The Overacheivers’ emulates The Ramones garage-rock attitude. There is even a dance track of sorts, the insane throbbing and grooving of ‘Proud Evolution’. As unforgettable as it is unsettling, Sisterworld will stay with you like a recurring nightmare.