It seems the books they’ve read, or rather, the albums they’ve listened to, have changed their original sonic makeup entirely.
After their 2022 EP first showcased the band’s new dance-inspired musical direction Effigy sees it taken to its natural home, forming the group’s most daring effort yet. Once a band indistinguishable from the South London post-punk sound, Effigy nods more in the direction of bands like The Chemical Brothers and The Prodigy, landing on a visceral and industrial sound that’s more refreshing and far less over-done.
A concept album of sorts, Effigy journeys through the rooms of a fictional nightclub, soundtracking the unpredictable experience with unnerving and ominous soundscapes. The clean guitars once delivered in abundance are largely gone, replaced by gnarly electronic instrumentation that twists and bends through the mix.
The album’s opener “Gold” plays like a statement of intent with its hypnotic rhythm and visceral lyrical chants from frontman Harrison Swann, both of which create a sense of claustrophobia and unpredictability that’s echoed at various points throughout the album.
“Panic” switches between intimate whispering vocals and chaotic instrumentals, while chants of “We get closer and closer” on lead single “Closer” flirt with a climax that never quite arrives. Effigy’s fidgety and anxiety-drenched soundscapes culminate on the dark and sweaty closer “Catalonia” which, with its pulsating electronica and heavy breathing vocals, encapsulates the record’s unpredictable nature.
Effigy sees Talk Show comfortable on their new path, having settled on a sound that allows their creativeness to thrive. They’re a band stepping into new territory with confidence, with endless possibilities ahead.
In evolving their original sound and carving a new path, Talk Show have shown an adeptness akin to the trail blazers of the post-punk sound they cut their teeth with. Just as this album embodies restless changeability, so too does the band that made it.
