Woodwind and Interpol is not a combination I was expecting.
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They’re turning into These New Puritans.
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Pioneer to the falls has an oboe I think?
I’m not very good at identifying woodwind or brass instruments and my memory was this just had synth orchestration but looked it up and yes it has an oboe. One of my all time favourites. I think Carlos had a strong hand in their more magisterial songs like this so will be interesting to hear how the new one is.
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I just remembered it from an interview from the time! I never would’ve picked it out without knowing.
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Wake Up an unexpected turn- the most danceable since Slow Hands?
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Here’s my review 
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Had a couple of listens to the album this morning - really, really like it.
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First Interpol I’ve listened to since El Pintoir. Really surprised how strong this is. Like a continuation of OLTA. Not going to be troubling my end of year list, but it’s nice to hear them throwing some decent sounds out again.
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Listened to it a few times now and like it.
Not going to be troubling the first couple of albums but probably up there with OLTA and better than the stuff after that.
(Still hoping they pretty much only play stuff from the first two albums in November though, obviously)
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Yeah, not bad this
This is decent. Nothing does it for me the same way that ‘see out loud’ does but plenty of nice melodies and good atmosphere.
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Bump for this thread. I’m absolutely loving this new album. The previous 2 LPs were gash and I was minded to just give them one more chance…. Back from brink in style.
All the signature sounds that made me love them originally are back, but somehow sounding fresh. Great production, the drums sound sharp and the riffs are back in their place. ‘Enemy’ is the current fave. Might have to find live tickets.
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Some thoughts on the new album, from an Interpol apologist who’s enjoyed everything they’ve put out to varying degrees, other than the second half of The Other Side of Make-Believe.
I really like it as a whole. Do I agree with the narrative that it’s the best thing they’ve put out since Antics? Ehhhh, I’m still in wait and see mode. Right now I still feel that El Pintor is the third best, since it’s banger after banger from beginning to end. TMWaT is annoyingly front-loaded, with the first four songs being the highlights. Nothing else that comes after matches that opening salvo imo.
At the risk of contradicting myself, the album loses a little too much steam after Wake Up, yet I still like the last three songs a lot. I do wish Bird and the Serpent properly let loose in an explosion of sound like it threatens to do during its build up, but alas it never happens. Feels like a missed opportunity to inject some needed energy into the tail end of the album. But still, Enemy-BatS-Sudden are a great trio of gothic-flavoured mood pieces.
Every instrumental coda is a treat. The strings at the end of Ever the Actor, the oboe at the end of Bird and the Serpent, the… bongos at the end of Wake Up. I like that these songs aren’t ever in a rush to finish and I think the album justifies being the longest record the band has ever put out. And I hope they continue to experiment more. The trip-hop title track is the best thing they’ve put out in yonks.
Anyway, it feels good to see the band put out an acclaimed product again. I’m really happy for the lads. If I were to rank their discography, it’d look something like…
Turn on the Bright Lights - 9.5
Antics - 9
El Pintor - 8.5
This Mirror Weighs a Ton - 8.5
Interpol - 8
Our Love to Admire - 8
Marauder - 7
The Other Side of Make-Believe - 6
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ignore (I can’t read)
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I just hope they go all in on bongos from this point on
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Antics is well overrated. One of several jockeying for second place in my mind.
Decided I’m a sucker for punishment and gave the second half of TOSOMB a go again based on your comments and oooooofffffff…..
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Definitely their best album since El Pintor, didn’t like the previous two at all so it is an unexpected bonus to have a new, decent Interpol album to listen to in 2026. Hoping to get a trilogy of good albums from my favourites this autumn with Protomartyr and Fontaines too. It’s made for a very busy gig schedule in the next few months.
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