ALBUM REVIEW: IDLES - TANGK: A BEAUTIFUL STRUGGLE THAT CUTS DEEP
Bristol band IDLES return with their fifth studio album, TANGK, released on February 16, 2024. The album represents a departure from their typical punk energy, embracing a haunting, almost trip-hop inspired atmosphere, delivering a dark yet irresistibly catchy sonic punch.
IDLES’ TANGK is a beast of a record. Raw, ambitious, and at times painfully intimate, it’s a bold step in a new direction for the band, bounding onward from the maturity of Crawler. While undeniably powerful, there’s a sense that the writing process was a struggle—a feeling that even the band themselves might acknowledge. Nowhere is this more apparent than on the album’s opener, Idea 1. It’s got atmosphere, a moody soundscape, and a sense of direction, but it also feels like a warm-up jam that never quite resolves. The kick drum plods along and the same piano chords are hammered out repetitively. But Joe Talbot’s vocal delivery swoops in to salvage it, shaping the song into something meaningful.
That’s the thing about TANGK—even when it stumbles, it still feels important. Take POP POP POP, a track that immediately calls to mind Radiohead’s Weird Fishes. Talbot has made no secret of his admiration for OK Computer, telling Rolling Stone he hopes IDLES can one day reach that level of artistry. POP POP POP is heading there. The song is a standout— an IDLES track through and through, but with a new depth and sophistication. The accompanying music video, directed by Stewart Baxter, was shot in the stunning freezing landscapes of Iceland. It features Talbot's charismatic performance against the stark natural beauty of the surroundings, enhancing the song's impact. Lyrically, POP POP POP reflects on Joe's gratitude for his daughter, heightened in the light of the loss of his first child during birth. Talbot reflects on the profound sense of gratitude and joy derived from his experiences as a parent, especially in the context of personal loss.
IDLES return with their fifth studio album, TANGK, released on February 16, 2024.
Overall, TANGK delivers some of the most beautiful songs IDLES have ever written, amid total fury. A Gospel and Grace are achingly poignant, offering a respite from the album’s more abrasive moments. Grace, in particular, is a song that holds deep personal weight. It sends a shiver down my spine, not just for its delicate, open-hearted beauty, but because it was the last song my brother played to me before he passed in December 2023. We had tickets to see IDLES at Dreamland in June 2024, but my family had to go without him. When Talbot spoke about mental health from the stage, the pain of that loss hit with an almost unbearable force. IDLES have always been a band that confronts the darkness head-on, and in that moment, their music became more than just sound—it was a shared experience of grief and resilience.
And then there’s Dancer. This one’s a bit of a head-scratcher. It’s out of tune, it’s messy, it feels wrong in all the right ways. A little like Soft Play’s Cut & Run, it’s one of those tracks that, despite its oddness, worms its way into your head and refuses to leave. It’s proof that IDLES aren’t afraid to take risks, to push at the boundaries.
The songwriting of Jungle, much like Idea 1, also sounds laboured and thin at times. The band's relentless touring may have left no room to decompress properly and let the creative inspirations of their debut album flow again.
TANGK isn’t perfect, but it is a great record. It’s an album that struggles, that questions itself, that wades through grief, joy, and chaos to find something real. This is not many fans favourite IDLES album, but it’s certainly well worth nabbing the next tour ticket. There's no doubt that they deserved to win the 2025 Grammy for Best Rock Album over The Rolling Stones – Hackney Diamonds. The band are in their 80s and used abundant autotune and stale programmed drums over the same old bluesy chords. I haven't heard of anyone who's mentioned that album, let alone bought a copy, and do the Stones really need another Grammy in 2025? IDLES have never been about polish or perfection—they’re about honesty. And on TANGK, that honesty is searing. It might not be their OK Computer just yet, but it’s a hell of a step towards something truly special.
