The release of appropriately named debut Brutalism in May followed a performance at SXSW and a sold-out UK tour for Bristol punks Idles. The record – which was named Album Of The Day by BBC Radio 6 Music on its release – is described by the band as “a necessary epitaph to the addictions, shadows and women in our lives”.
Originally from Devon, Idles had already been playing together for a few years before moving up the M5 to Bristol. Singer Joe Talbot says: “It’s gone well, because we stuck to our guns for seven years, kept our heads down, enjoyed ourselves and each other and worked fucking hard. I think our ethos and tone has a more pertinent ring to it in this current time and place, which has helped us get heard.”
The first run of 500 copies of Brutalism sold out almost instantly via the band’s website and at gigs, with the second run now on sale. Joe continues: “The sleeve has an original art piece by my old man and me; page two is an open letter to my mother; the third page is a list of gratitude to the people that helped us build this ship and the back cover is a tracklisting imposed on an image of my partner’s vagina. All are relevant to us as a family and what the record became.
“We released it on vinyl, because people want it as a format. If you want it on mp3, it’s because you want the songs or album – but if you want it on vinyl, it’s because of the relationship the listener has with records, the physicality or the sonic individuality vinyl has. Also, it sells better, as people respect it more.”