It’s been estimated that approximately 4 million women were put to death over the course of a few hundred years as the high middle ages of the Inquisition turned into a Reformation Witch Hunt. Few would take this as the premise for a ‘concept album’ (the term itself being chilling enough to most musicians) but the midnight black of the pine forest and a fat moon on a winter night still conjure irrational emotions in the steadiest heart and as such it’s prime territory for Liars to examine.
‘They Were Wrong So We Drowned’ (a reference to the ducking stool) allegedly concocted on Walpurgisnacht should by rights (rites?) fall somewhere between the classical torrent of Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain” and a compilation of Scooby Doo hammer-horror sound effects. If you enjoy stroking black cats, burning pagans or talking to animals, however, this could be the record for you.
As Difficult Second Albums go, it is at times an uncomfortable listen. However, singer Angus Andrew recently said ‘this isn’t us forever, it’s not like the next record is going to be scary and weird’ and unfortunately that’s the measuring stick in this case – scary and weird. And often, frankly, the detuned guitars and sparse ritualistic drumming just aren’t scary or weird enough. The interspersel of artificial and programmed sounds and off kilter rhythms prick the ear appropriately and playground lyrics and chanting stand out. The gradual inertia built as Liars take on the fables of both villagers and their victims chapter by chapter or song but song - ultimately diffused by a dawn chorus, is interesting and cerebral, but not epoch marking. It’s a glimpse through the hollerin' pines, a witchy 40 minutes as opposed to a witching hour.
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