Mess by Liars is a mess of magnificent proportions.

The band don’t make the music easy, but its challenge is rewarding listening for those keen to stretch their ears into avant-pop territory.

Opening up with the cannibalistic courtship of ‘Mask Maker’, Liars make an album one could only describe as Frankensteinian. Glued together there is a lo-fi charm to their grotesque discotheque.

Flitting from the cosmic dance banger ‘Pro Anti Anti’ to proto industrial ‘Boyzone’, the squelching cyberswamp of ‘Darkslide’, and the Laurie Anderson style ‘Left Speaker Blown’, the Los Angeles trio have stuck together a highly effective and utterly fascinating sonic mood board.

Angus Andrew’s vocals play more of the part of accompanying instrument rather than anchoring us to one definable persona, but this is less a critique than an observation.

Be prepared for this album. Its Frankesteinian design is worth every single second of listening pleasure.

Listen to ‘Mess On A Mission’ from Mess here:

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