Trailed in advance with some choppy singles, IST IST’s fifth album follows less than two years after Light a Bigger Fire – which is certainly did. While touring 2023’s Protagonists, they were playing venues with a capacity in the region of 150 capacity: with Light a Bigger Fire, the venues were twice that size at home and their profile in mainland Europe has soared. Deservedly so, it has to be said.
Some may contend that the whole post-punk thing’s been overdone, and in the wake of the early 00s revival which saw Editors and Interpol explode, there’s little new to offer – but the same could be said of any style or genre. What it comes down to is quality of material and ten years in, IST IST are delivering their strongest and most finely-honed yet.
There’s something about an album with ten tracks, all around the three to four-minute mark – which ‘Dagger’ is. A lot if it’s to do with the heyday of vinyl, and subsequently cassette, and while there’s much to be said for the CD, and particular, digital formats allowing more expansive sonic explorations, when it comes to ‘songs’ bands, the format demands focus, and in terms of listening span, it feels optimal.
Yes, IST IST exist within the post-punk lineage which includes Interpol, Editors, White Lies, with some jangly, chorus-tinged guitars, solid, strolling basslines and mechanoid drumming which in turn harks back to Joy Division – but equally, it’s reminiscent of the poppier end of northern goth circa 1985, and by no means only on account of Adam Houghton’s baritone vocal.
Every song on ‘Dagger’ is single-worthy, and the album actually flows like an album as a set of songs, too, with switches in tempo and mood landing with the precision that characterises the album. Electronic drum intros – as on ‘The Echo’ merge seamlessly with live drums, and synths weave in with the guitars to create a neat balance, without feeling overproduced. There’s not a duff track on here, and they keep the levels of energy and drive up from beginning to end.
