Overmono, i.e. brothers Tom and Ed Russell, have been releasing music since 2016, but it wasn’t until 2021 that their hit »So U Kno« catapulted them from insider tip to the UK’s hottest techno act. On post-pandemic dance floors and electro festivals around the world, the Welsh band have been frenetically celebrated and their début album, now finally released, has been met with both high expectations and advance praise. »Good Lies« will probably disappoint few fans, as all 13 tracks contain the ingredients for maximalist club bangers: deep bass and high, sugary-sweet, mostly pitched vocal melodies (by Tirzah, among others), a bit of 2-step and grime, a pinch of electronica here and there, occasionally harder beats and then again very poppy house. It jangles, it’s colourful, it’s catchy and a lot happens in the space of a track – the best material for festival stages and DJ booths. At album length, however, the songs start to sound a little too similar, the structure, patterns and components are all quite similar, and the hyperactive animation character gets tiresome at some point – unless you’re dancing to it, that is. Maybe Overmono just doesn’t like the format of the album, because on the Fabric mix, for example, the two have already proven that they can put together a round, atmospheric and varied hour of club music. Or »Good Lies« may simply serve as a cue for many a partygoer’s dancefloor memories.
Joy Orbison
Flight FM / Shiloh’s Revenge
XL Recordings