"I felt like I was part of something" a thread for Real Lies

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i voted for real lies, it spoke to the crushing sense of notalgia that was my 2020. also made me think of the beloved, who i also love in the same slightly-embarrassed-by-it kind of way

*

I’m a bit embarrassed how deeply “Boss Trick'' got its hooks in; it did absolutely nothing for me on first blush but now I’ve played it forty times if I’ve played it once and I am afraid I’m likely to listen to it another hundred in the coming year. I’m amused but unsurprised that this hooked you Dan; keep fucking around with Real Lies and they’ll definitely getcha!

There’s just something about the blend of the warm and rummy bassline, the breathy vocals, the canned drums, the piano motif, the disarmingly rich electrostrings and that sample OH THAT SAMPLE; it’s all unmistakably, immensely corny but somehow evokes genuine **Ff3eeee1llzzz** “Clubby PM Dawn” is a very good description imo.

*

The first Real Lies album, which I love a lot, is more like East 17 than anything else I can put my finger on.

They remind me of The Tough Alliance a lot though: immaculate hooks over synth-pop, swaggering and menacing delivery but celebratory joyous lyrics. I think TTA practice situationalism as a means of political escape in an idealised way, but for RL it manifests in the fleeting joy of nightlife and club culture.

They also make me think of Saint Etienne's first two albums - stylistically different of course, but both at a point in their careers where their music sounds tied to the city, and borne out of the thrill of the joy of pop itself, all samples and ambition.

I really love this band, I would have started a thread on them if I had had any inkling that ILM wouldn't hate it.

*

apparently real lies once described their sound as 'dj sprinkles meets oasis' lmao

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQOfS-x6mqc

boxedjoy, Saturday, 30 January 2021 09:55 (four years ago) link

and rather fortuitously they've released a new song this weekend

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAvWmDP-Xtk

boxedjoy, Saturday, 30 January 2021 09:59 (four years ago) link

Oh wow why have I not heard these before?

the scamp has a thousand fries (Noodle Vague), Saturday, 30 January 2021 10:19 (four years ago) link

i have nothing but warm feelings for these lads, even they make me cringe a bit (hello new song!)

mage uluk (NickB), Saturday, 30 January 2021 10:42 (four years ago) link

i did enjoy their version of 'a raint night in soho' last year, they pretty much turned the pogues into a bark psychosis song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQQr4t72aVg

mage uluk (NickB), Saturday, 30 January 2021 10:51 (four years ago) link

I feel like the cringe is part of the appeal: the way they skirt the boundary between lad swagger and earnestness, it feels disarmingly sincere

boxedjoy, Saturday, 30 January 2021 11:01 (four years ago) link

it's a weird kind of selling point, but yes - that!

mage uluk (NickB), Saturday, 30 January 2021 11:27 (four years ago) link

I'm not an expert in these matters, but should thread be called "a mix between DJ Sprinkles and PM Dawn with the swagger of Oasis" (or something like that)?

Smokahontas and John Spliff (PBKR), Saturday, 30 January 2021 14:10 (four years ago) link

I really missed a trick there eh

boxedjoy, Saturday, 30 January 2021 15:00 (four years ago) link

yeah boss trick is a ten, I love how it’s a tribute to the third guy who left the group, real earnest bromance vibes

brimstead, Saturday, 30 January 2021 18:02 (four years ago) link

Gorgeous merchandise that I'm vaguely tempted by: https://real-lies.bandcamp.com/merch/forza-rl-bliss-to-be-alive-scarves

As mentioned upthread, love the Ea(rne)st 17-ness of these guys

technopolis, Saturday, 30 January 2021 18:07 (four years ago) link

two months pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12GveMzGUSg

another new one, getting a very strong sense of how the new album is going to sound when it finally arrives

boxedjoy, Friday, 16 April 2021 11:09 (three years ago) link

Love “Late Arcades”. Though I think “Nicotine Patch” may be my favourite of the recent material.

Love the female/male vocal interplay on:

What you gonna use those sore lips for?
Making vows, breaking laws
Constant craving, settling scores
Football pools and cellar doors
Late enough to break
Stay cool son, ache, ache, ache, ache
Hold it inside
With all the reasons why

Tim F, Friday, 16 April 2021 11:27 (three years ago) link

five months pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Du8HPKqHZcI

boxedjoy, Wednesday, 13 October 2021 16:09 (three years ago) link

two weeks pass...

I love this group

brimstead, Sunday, 31 October 2021 16:07 (three years ago) link

going to see them live tonight after it was postponed three (!) times and I am too excited

boxedjoy, Friday, 5 November 2021 10:55 (three years ago) link

Ever since discovering this group, I've become more and more obsessed with them

talkin' about his flat tire (DJP), Friday, 5 November 2021 13:29 (three years ago) link

these guys are wonderful.

Linda and Jodie Rocco (map), Friday, 5 November 2021 14:47 (three years ago) link

"late arcades" is just >>>>>>

Linda and Jodie Rocco (map), Friday, 5 November 2021 14:53 (three years ago) link

okay late arcades is outstanding

Tracer Hand, Friday, 5 November 2021 15:05 (three years ago) link

why didn’t anybody tell me about this band???

Tracer Hand, Friday, 5 November 2021 15:05 (three years ago) link

i found out about them in the 2020 ilx top tracks rollout i think? they were like 52 or something

Linda and Jodie Rocco (map), Friday, 5 November 2021 16:39 (three years ago) link

this album has the potential to rule my winter if it comes out soon ish.

Linda and Jodie Rocco (map), Friday, 5 November 2021 16:41 (three years ago) link

also i need the "bliss to be alive" shirt

Linda and Jodie Rocco (map), Friday, 5 November 2021 16:42 (three years ago) link

the sweetest thing I’ve ever known

brimstead, Friday, 5 November 2021 17:26 (three years ago) link

"since i" is a freaking anthem

Linda and Jodie Rocco (map), Friday, 5 November 2021 19:51 (three years ago) link

It’s about late-night people living in a world that doesn’t want them. It’s about ecstatic taxi rides, drawn curtains, Bluetooth speakers and the sudden pull of strangers. It’s about burying yourself in words and warm bodies in an endless search for the right ones. It was ushered into the world by our friend Tom Watson and finished off by us, with the help of Tom Demac. It’s the next song from our new album and it’s for all of you.
lyrics
They tore the tongue from the town
Had the nerve to shed tears for the underground
Still need somewhere to come up now the club’s shut down
Aha, ha!
My heart lifts off the backseat, joins the bedtime birds
Numbers rule my life but I’m a man of words
But round her it surges like I can’t describe
Sin, sin, since I

Since I heard your name
I’ve been coming alive
The lines of your fingers
Can we head to mine?
Since I

Sin, sin, since I
Left you late
At Sunday light

It’s a city changing
A shadow play of what it was

It’s a different type of hedonist that wears the crown
Rave echoes are the currency in shutdown town
A sadlad reminiscence with the SoundCloud out
Aha, ha
I’m a caller you can count on in the fading light
I’m a counter you can call on in the dead of night
Young yearning, burning earnings
When the time is right
Since I

Sin, sin, since I

The roads are on surge but the urge has spoken
As one door shuts, another opens
Least till tomorrow when the spell is broken
Aha, ha…

If I were you, I’d forget about that day
Memory fades when you’ve let yourself down
Promises made in a cab, they fade
Well, where are the people who care for you now?
Summer sensoria, unite the euphoria
Get back on the chase and you’ll never come down
Daylight deceit makes you feel complete
Well, this is for someone who never slows down…

Since I

The sight of your shoulders
Laid by my side
Sin, sin, since I

We dreamt a dream of this town
In between the offie and the eider down
Can you hack another bag if you’re coming round?
Aha, ha!
Can you hear that banging bassline through your bedroom wall?
You shut down our clubs then six of us moved in next door
Least you can tell me now how you sleep at night
Sin, sin, since I

Linda and Jodie Rocco (map), Friday, 5 November 2021 19:53 (three years ago) link

going to see them live tonight after it was postponed three (!) times and I am too excited

how were they? I see they're playing here in a couple of days.

toby, Monday, 8 November 2021 13:27 (three years ago) link

I wouldn't want to spoil it but yes you should definitely go see them, they were excellent, the performance was full of surprises and everything was suitably banging, I think the next album is going to be the Saint Etienne/Burial/East 17 hybrid of my dreams based on the new material

boxedjoy, Monday, 8 November 2021 17:59 (three years ago) link

fuck this stuff is good

adam, Monday, 8 November 2021 18:47 (three years ago) link

It’s about late-night people living in a world that doesn’t want them. It’s about ecstatic taxi rides, drawn curtains, Bluetooth speakers and the sudden pull of strangers. It’s about burying yourself in words and warm bodies in an endless search for the right ones.

this is otm but also describes every Real Lies song?

Both "Since I" are "Your Guiding Hand" are fantastic.

Tim F, Monday, 8 November 2021 23:43 (three years ago) link

two months pass...

I was just Googling around looking for news about their second album and Juno has the track-listing, artwork and even previews up. Haven't seen anything announced officially anywhere yet so I'm not sure what the deal is. According to Juno the album is called Lad Ash and comes out on April 22nd.

https://www.junodownload.com/products/real-lies-lad-ash/5393660-02/

My most anticipated album of the year at this point.

kitchen person, Thursday, 27 January 2022 05:10 (three years ago) link

it's not unusual for retailers to accidentally post listings for albums before they're announced, lots of stuff gets leaked out that way.

going through their run of singles over the last few years & "late arcades" is so good, glad that's on the album since not everything is.

ufo, Thursday, 27 January 2022 06:27 (three years ago) link

Theyve announced another show in Glasgow, it doesn't seem to be a "tour" but the date makes sense around this schedule for release

boxedjoy, Thursday, 27 January 2022 09:13 (three years ago) link

I’m gonna pretend that them leaving off their best song is some kind of 80s throwback strategy,

Tim F, Thursday, 27 January 2022 11:47 (three years ago) link

Genre: "breakbeat"

Tracer Hand, Thursday, 27 January 2022 12:04 (three years ago) link

what I really want is a bonus disc of the "UNREAL" mixes of the singles.

they played Oh Me Oh My (Nicotine Patch) at their show so it's not like they've disowned it.

boxedjoy, Thursday, 27 January 2022 12:13 (three years ago) link

Yeah I guess that’s my point, the song even has the feel of a single that sits outside of the album it is adjacent to

Tim F, Thursday, 27 January 2022 12:29 (three years ago) link

lad ash is happening

The questions you've been asking for so long have finally found their answer. 10AM tomorrow 🕊 https://t.co/hUPal9RWEB

— Real Lies (@_real_lies) February 8, 2022

o shit the sheriff (NickB), Tuesday, 8 February 2022 21:32 (three years ago) link

FINALLY

boxedjoy, Tuesday, 8 February 2022 22:57 (three years ago) link

I'm hoping it's the same release date that Juno had (April 22nd) as that's quite soon, but I also have my fingers crossed that the track-listing wasn't quite correct and Oh Me Oh My is on the album

kitchen person, Wednesday, 9 February 2022 00:40 (three years ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv9-l613aSM

https://real-lies.bandcamp.com/album/lad-ash

juno listing was accurate

ufo, Wednesday, 9 February 2022 11:57 (three years ago) link

new song is a vibe

o shit the sheriff (NickB), Wednesday, 9 February 2022 18:18 (three years ago) link

Brilliant news!

Vinyl apparently includes bonus tracks never seen on vinyl before.

kitchen person, Thursday, 10 February 2022 03:10 (three years ago) link

three weeks pass...

some dates:

We've also added new dates to our 2022 tour. Come see us if you like, all ticket links below...

1 April - Manchester, White Hotel
23 April - Rotterdam, Motel Mozaique
28 April - London, Pickle Factory - SOLD OUT
30 April - Glasgow, Nice N Sleazy
28 May – Copenhagen, VEGA
6 Oct - London, Heaven
28 Oct - Leeds, Belgrave Music Hall
29 Oct - Nottingham, Bodega
18 Nov - Dublin, Grand Social
26 Nov - Brighton, Patterns

o shit the sheriff (NickB), Thursday, 3 March 2022 16:36 (two years ago) link

no spoilers but the live show when I saw them was full of charming surprises as well as being made of complete bangers and I can't wait to see them again

boxedjoy, Thursday, 3 March 2022 18:59 (two years ago) link

yes to all that, and the gig i saw was very in keeping with the spirit of their music - something very ingenuous and sincere about the whole thing, maybe its just the times we've been through but it was a genuinely emotional experience

o shit the sheriff (NickB), Thursday, 3 March 2022 19:09 (two years ago) link

massive rabbits – with a vital message https://t.co/ITyxrltlQc pic.twitter.com/36mxex0Cre

— Real Lies (@_real_lies) March 10, 2022

o shit the sheriff (NickB), Thursday, 10 March 2022 22:08 (two years ago) link

If anyone is interested Real Lies have a very lengthy Spotify playlist called “Bliss to be Alive” and it’s an absolute trove of goodies

the article don, Friday, 11 March 2022 22:24 (two years ago) link

Updated every fortnight too!

boxedjoy, Saturday, 12 March 2022 02:14 (two years ago) link

yeah the JLP sample is sweet but the chorus is insanely sweet

brimstead, Saturday, 6 May 2023 17:33 (one year ago) link

Yeah "World Peace" is the track that reminded me most of New Order. Certainly as good as anything else RL has done

Vinnie, Saturday, 6 May 2023 23:07 (one year ago) link

The 1-800 Girls remix of “Boss Trick” is fucking chef’s kiss, lemme tell you

Tim F, Thursday, 18 May 2023 12:51 (one year ago) link

very true

corrs unplugged, Saturday, 20 May 2023 20:22 (one year ago) link

New single just dropped

Some songs kill you without even trying. This might be the best ever written in that genre. https://t.co/vF6vFS3pMW

— Real Lies (@_real_lies) May 24, 2023

bain4z, Wednesday, 24 May 2023 10:05 (one year ago) link

three weeks pass...

Just stumbled on this by chance. Not sure I'd have recognised it as a Television Personalities cover if I'd not seen the title first!

Nag! Nag! Nag!, Wednesday, 14 June 2023 09:15 (one year ago) link

three months pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2aYPA20iHE
Mall Grab & Real Lies - End Credits

NickB, Thursday, 21 September 2023 22:16 (one year ago) link

(it's good)

NickB, Thursday, 21 September 2023 22:17 (one year ago) link

one month passes...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FSagq7sh0w

new ep later this month

ufo, Wednesday, 8 November 2023 21:48 (one year ago) link

wow

ꙮ (map), Wednesday, 8 November 2023 22:14 (one year ago) link

god i love this track

ꙮ (map), Monday, 13 November 2023 15:59 (one year ago) link

two weeks pass...

Oh boy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6USyxbH98fM

groovypanda, Tuesday, 28 November 2023 13:36 (one year ago) link

love it

karl...arlk...rlka...lkar..., Tuesday, 28 November 2023 15:33 (one year ago) link

eight months pass...

Another collaboration with Mall Grab. Really like this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZkcQ-pFQmw

groovypanda, Wednesday, 14 August 2024 07:33 (six months ago) link

Yeah it is great!

willem, Wednesday, 14 August 2024 08:10 (six months ago) link

oh man that is so good <3 <3

he/him hoo-hah (map), Wednesday, 14 August 2024 13:54 (six months ago) link

The collab with Kettama is great too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zly6vdtaRII

nashwan, Wednesday, 14 August 2024 14:14 (six months ago) link

i totally missed this last year, but the gramrcy and john loveless remix of "late arcades" is astoundingly good.

https://real-lies.bandcamp.com/track/late-arcades-gramrcy-john-loveless-remix

he/him hoo-hah (map), Wednesday, 14 August 2024 14:18 (six months ago) link

MY BODY FLOWS LIKE WATER

he/him hoo-hah (map), Wednesday, 14 August 2024 16:07 (six months ago) link

“Ripples in the Timeline” is excellent

Tim F, Wednesday, 14 August 2024 20:24 (six months ago) link

damn "ripples in the timeline" is so fucking good

slob wizard (J0rdan S.), Wednesday, 21 August 2024 16:10 (six months ago) link

still oversensitive, still raving off the excess envy

he/him hoo-hah (map), Wednesday, 21 August 2024 16:22 (six months ago) link

i can't make out exactly what he calls the drugs at the end of the first verse but "they taste like deep inside / and when it hits i realize..." is just perfect to me

slob wizard (J0rdan S.), Wednesday, 21 August 2024 16:35 (six months ago) link

"my body flows like water" is such a perfect place to get to, and i love the 'ah ah ah ah's that precede it, it feels like they shoot me there. this track was a big cathartic listen on my run this morning. love that you love this one.

he/him hoo-hah (map), Wednesday, 21 August 2024 16:46 (six months ago) link

two months pass...

song of the year. can't get enough of this lately. Finally got me into Lad Ash in full, too.

maf you one two (maffew12), Wednesday, 30 October 2024 00:27 (three months ago) link

two weeks pass...

you all heard this ELLES remix they did earlier this year, right? Breathtaking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tqRtOaBfXg

brimstead, Saturday, 16 November 2024 03:38 (three months ago) link

Yep, so good

All the best ones sound like longing indeed

groovypanda, Sunday, 17 November 2024 11:42 (three months ago) link

one of my pals bought the Bliss To Be Alive scarf and has spent winter explaining to security staff that it's a reference to a lyric and not an obscure political reference to Israel

boxedjoy, Sunday, 17 November 2024 15:12 (three months ago) link

New single out next week, tour next Spring and hints that we might be getting album #3 next year

groovypanda, Wednesday, 20 November 2024 17:08 (three months ago) link

then come exorcise your excess cortisol in dark rooms with us when the leaves return to the treeshttps://t.co/IW5Re50ZjV pic.twitter.com/Wx5BE9SMma

— Real Lies (@_real_lies) November 20, 2024

groovypanda, Friday, 22 November 2024 11:54 (two months ago) link

Tickets bought, third time seeing them in three years, excellent!

boxedjoy, Friday, 22 November 2024 13:31 (two months ago) link

...a reference to a lyric and not an obscure political reference to Israel

Wow!

Also: Loverboy

Nag! Nag! Nag!, Wednesday, 27 November 2024 04:54 (two months ago) link

hmm not really feeling this one

ufo, Wednesday, 27 November 2024 18:47 (two months ago) link

one of my pals bought the Bliss To Be Alive scarf and has spent winter explaining to security staff that it's a reference to a lyric and not an obscure political reference to Israel

― boxedjoy, Sunday, November 17, 2024 3:12 PM (one week ago) bookmarkflaglink

i have the bliss to be alive t-shirt. they sent me two somehow, one from the uk and one from new york iirc? thanks lads!

he/him hoo-hah (map), Wednesday, 27 November 2024 19:26 (two months ago) link

love this one - i like intimateness of it, like they're nurturing something precious

Bernard Quidbins (NickB), Wednesday, 27 November 2024 23:35 (two months ago) link

listening back to "Boss Trick". Can anyone tell me about the Despair Hippo?

maf you one two (maffew12), Wednesday, 11 December 2024 17:08 (two months ago) link

two weeks pass...

I thought that had to be a bad transcription on the web (very mumbly bit)... I just got the vinyl in and he is indeed speaking of The Despair Hippo.

loving Loverboy!

maf you one two (maffew12), Tuesday, 31 December 2024 15:06 (one month ago) link

three weeks pass...

this fucking band

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jKCu-AHtbo

groovypanda, Wednesday, 22 January 2025 22:28 (four weeks ago) link

just heard it! fantastic tune

Bernard Quidbins (NickB), Wednesday, 22 January 2025 22:29 (four weeks ago) link

oh my god

hexham head (map), Wednesday, 22 January 2025 22:55 (four weeks ago) link

Incredible single.

Has a new album been confirmed yet?

kitchen person, Thursday, 23 January 2025 01:59 (four weeks ago) link

Now it has:

We Will Annihilate Our Enemies, releases April 11

1. Loverboy
2. Towards Horses
3. Wild Sign I Choose You
4. WWAOE
5. Down & Out (Where E-Girls Dare)
6. loverdrink
7. I Could Join The Birds
8. Arielle
9. Shulgin
10. LOVERWORLD
11. Finding Money ft. Jessica Barden

Vinnie, Thursday, 30 January 2025 11:17 (three weeks ago) link

WE WILL ANNIHILATE OUR ENEMIES

ivy., Thursday, 30 January 2025 12:38 (three weeks ago) link

LOVERWORLD!!!!

maf you one two (maffew12), Thursday, 30 January 2025 12:41 (three weeks ago) link

That's just the best news to wake up to today.

kitchen person, Thursday, 30 January 2025 14:49 (three weeks ago) link

kev's insta post:

Our new album, WE WILL ANNIHILATE OUR ENEMIES, is out on April 11th. It was written in the space of the last year, and I think it’s the most beautiful album we’ve ever made, as well as the best thing I’ve ever written, lyrically. I feel like I am finally starting to understand the way the world works today, this exhilarating casino with all its horrors and sadnesses; I feel like maybe I am even learning to love it.

Either way, after finishing this album at 7x the speed of the last one, I’m confident that the world famous RL no longer have to live inside of our memories. I wanted WWAOE to confront the here and now head-on, not whine about some lost past. To those of you who’ve grown accustomed to me doing that, dw: it’s still an album about drugs, defiance, England, people, and the rain, it’s just got more songs in the present tense than the other two.

Thanks to everyone who helped get it over the line, especially Patrick, who’s somehow spent an entire year drumming up the patience to match my mood swings and anxious perfectionism stride for shambling stride.

You can pre-order the album on vinyl and CD now through our new friends at Tonal, who are also releasing the album. and we just put a load of brand new WWAOE merch on sale too via our bandcamp. Shouts to @galenbullivant and @lucas_owen and @tomwoodarchive for the visual world.

In short, it’s gonna be a big year for the operation. Get your tickets to see us out on tour, where we’ll be playing songs from our new album for the very first time. We can’t wait for you to hear them take flight.

Forza RL,

KLK
🕊♾

Bernard Quidbins (NickB), Thursday, 30 January 2025 18:52 (three weeks ago) link

Looking forward to seeing them in Dublin in 2 weeks

Saxophone Of Futility (Michael B), Thursday, 30 January 2025 20:02 (three weeks ago) link

This album can't come soon enough

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXsZ1ON6rCc

groovypanda, Wednesday, 12 February 2025 09:45 (one week ago) link

this one's wonderful

ufo, Thursday, 13 February 2025 07:19 (one week ago) link

Loverboy has big You Do Scribble vibes. Can anyone hook me up with more tracks that sound like a pachinko machine? it's all i want today.

maf you one two (maffew12), Friday, 21 February 2025 14:59 (three hours ago) link


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