Squid - O Monolith

Warp Records

Squid come up for air with the release of their second studio album, 'O Monolith'. 'Bright Green Field' delivered on the promise of potential which came from EP's like 'Town Centre' and singles released in the time leading up to the record - 'Sludge' and 'Houseplants' for example. BGF had minor pacing issues which held it back in a way, but all in all we received one of the best albums of 2021 through the creative endeavours of Squid. The Brighton boys are back, and they've upped their game, yet again.

With 12 or so minutes shaved off of O Monolith's runtime, the album naturally feels more precise and to the point - the overall flow of the album is pretty much perfected; tracks fall in to one another neatly. An absurd sound palette is put on display. Usually an extensive use of sound brings with it chaos and a sense of mixed intent - Squid shape O Monolith in to one succinct package. The mould that Bright Green Field set isn't necessarily broken, but sharpened. For something as expansive and all-encompassing as O Monolith, the cohesiveness of the material is mind-boggling.

Musically, O Monolith is a delight to get lost in. Strolling around the giant and over-arching rocks make you feel as if you're a small cog in an ever-growing world - puny and inconsequential. However, remove the small cog and things tend to fall apart. The finer details mean more than you'll ever know; they do more than you'll ever understand.

Squid remain among the cream of the crop with O Monolith. There isn't a band around that are as interesting and simultaneously listenable as this lot. Their balance of obscurities and pop sensibilities is second to none.

Thousand people down below.
They're bending in the wind.