If Ist Ist ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Carrying on more or less where they left off on the thoroughly excellent The Art Of Lying, this impressive Manchester collective expertly deliver intelligent, intense and empathetic real-world music that could even help fix something that’s broke (sic) in you.
“Protagonsists” are characters, but real people too, and you might well recognise yourself or those you love somewhere in this splendid selection of intriguing, emotional and engaging songs.
Ist Ist’s debut album Architecture was highly acclaimed and 2021’s The Art Of Lying was a similarly clear, coherent and ordered example of consistency, their considerable class and all-round quality established and maintained. Protagonists matches that class, that quality and consistency, but some highlights jag out like inspired bolts of lightning. Almost title track The Protagonist is synth-led, poised and immaculate, throbbing and sublime, a live treat to be. Is it criminally hidden away at track nine of 10? I think so. Be sure to seek it out and set high on your very own playlist.
Mary In The Black And White Room is another stand-out. Some knowledge of the Knowledge Argument and other studies of hypothetical situations might help, but in reality it’s Ist Ist, it just is, sprightly and bouncy, heading for a fine crescendo, thrills and spills and drum fills. All Downhill builds on a snaky bass riff, smartly and smoothly employs the word “belligerence” and creates a nicely off-kilter atmosphere. Emily, a live favourite already, is all doom, drama and post-Punk unease.
The “Manchester band” tag has seen Ist Ist compared to Joy Division and their successors, but as I’ve said before there are also shades of early Ultravox, and Birmingham’s Editors, not to mention echoes of the Bunnymen and OMD. Veteran sound engineer Greg Calbi, who mastered The Art Of Lying and the new album, with Steve Fallone, has worked on records by Lou Reed, Bowie, Interpol and The National. The Ist Ist sound is a retro sound, yes – classic and recognisably Gothic, it has to be said – but there is still so much promise for the future.
Protagonists opens with the aggressive Stamp You Out – a killer Hook-y bass rumble, and we’re off, driving, leaping, loping forward, careering through the trees. If this song could be weaponised it would no doubt be useful in a full-force, frontal assault – a blunt object to the bridge of the nose.
More poppy, more upbeat, Something Has To Give boasts buzzy, crunchy geetars, like a post-Industrialist Ty Segall. Two tracks in and it’s apparent the rhythm section are right on it – on The Art Of Lying they didn’t so much set a bar as throw blazing torches in the air, almost challenging themselves to keep juggling. Now they’re back to adeptly catch the batons, rekindle the fire and set the whole thing in motion once more.
Nothing More Nothing Less is simply bass and drums at first before some sweet keys set the mood and it’s all good, a love song, a three-minute (and 22 secs) pop song. Artefacts, despite checking in at only 2:58, qualifies as an enthralling epic, reminiscent of The Art Of Lying’s Dylan Thomas-inspired closing track, Don’t Go Gentle.
Fool’s Paradise has the boys quoting Shakespeare, tackling family matters and rocking out. Closing song Trapdoors keeps the burbling synths to the fore, keeps the blade sharp, the vice tight, and the emotions just about in check.
Ist Ist are Adam Houghton (vocals, guitar), Andy Keating (bass), Joel Kay (drums) and Mat Peters (guitar, synths).
Protagonists is out on Friday (March 31), via Kind Violence Records