For almost three decades, INTERPOL have developed their own distinctive musical language of atmosphere, tension and restraint. With ‘This Mirror Weighs a Ton’, due this Friday, the band do not radically reinvent themselves, but instead naturally expand their established sonic universe. At its core remains the characteristic interplay between Paul Banks’ vocals, Daniel Kessler’s guitar work and Sam Fogarino’s precise sense of rhythm.The title track opens the album and immediately captures this newfound openness. A stripped-back structure develops into an expansive piece featuring distorted bass lines, drifting textures and hypnotic dynamics. ‘Wings on Fire’, ‘See Out Loud’ and ‘Ever the Actor’ explore different facets of this broader sonic palette, ranging from classic INTERPOL moments to new arrangements enriched with additional textures and colours.
The album was created with producer Andrew Wyatt, with whom INTERPOL returned to working in New York for the first time in many years. Synthesizers, strings and additional percussion expand the songs without altering the band’s identity. Wyatt introduces new production ideas that bring to the fore elements that have always been part of the INTERPOL sound.
The band’s enduring strength continues to lie in their long-standing creative partnership. Daniel Kessler’s guitar ideas and Paul Banks’ intuitive approach to developing melodies and lyrics still meet with the same creative tension. Tracks such as ‘Wounded Soldier’, ‘Bird and the Serpent’, ‘So Rides the Reindeer’ and ‘Sudden’ showcase the album’s diverse moods, ranging from electronically charged soundscapes to stripped-back, contemplative moments.
‘This Mirror Weighs a Ton’ explores perception, self-reflection and the things that remain hidden beneath the surface for a long time. It is an album that looks back on INTERPOL’s history while simultaneously demonstrating that, after almost 30 years, the band continue to find new paths within their own musical world.
Source: Press Release
