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El Pintor (Interpol) | 4/5

SINGAPORE — Interpol’s first album after the departure of founder bassist Carlos Dengler finds the band consolidating its post-punk sound and hearkening back to its earlier albums Turn On the Bright Lights and Antics. El Pintor (or The Painter) comes across almost like a statement of intent, a strident rebuttal of suggestions that Dengler’s departure would affect the band’s sonic agenda. In fact, singer Paul Banks seems to have found a way to take the bass parts even further. That said, it is still Daniel Kessler’s edgy guitars and Banks’ baritone vocals that define that so-called “Interpol sound”. In deep album cuts like Ancient Ways, Tidal Waves and Twice As Hard, Interpol demonstrates that its status as a vanguard band of the post-punk revival remains indisputable. With melodies that defy easy pigeonholing, dynamic performances that belie the band’s age and a quiet assurance that put the naysayers to shame, El Pintor is a work of a group at the peak of its powers.

Karen O’s Crush Songs.

Karen O’s Crush Songs.

SINGAPORE — Interpol’s first album after the departure of founder bassist Carlos Dengler finds the band consolidating its post-punk sound and hearkening back to its earlier albums Turn On the Bright Lights and Antics. El Pintor (or The Painter) comes across almost like a statement of intent, a strident rebuttal of suggestions that Dengler’s departure would affect the band’s sonic agenda. In fact, singer Paul Banks seems to have found a way to take the bass parts even further. That said, it is still Daniel Kessler’s edgy guitars and Banks’ baritone vocals that define that so-called “Interpol sound”. In deep album cuts like Ancient Ways, Tidal Waves and Twice As Hard, Interpol demonstrates that its status as a vanguard band of the post-punk revival remains indisputable. With melodies that defy easy pigeonholing, dynamic performances that belie the band’s age and a quiet assurance that put the naysayers to shame, El Pintor is a work of a group at the peak of its powers.

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