IDLES : Model Village
IDLES
Model Village
The fourth single preceding IDLES’ highly anticipated third album Ultra Mono, Model Village is everything you want out of an IDLES track and then more. Back-forth twitchy guitars, a single driving bass note that hammers in and out, and hard-hitting drums that beat you over the head rounded off with frontman Joe Talbot’s signature wit and growls.
The single is a warcry against closed-minded “Model Villages” in the UK, where seemingly perfect small communities breed racism and homophobia. Talbot denounces these far-right ideals with biting commentary on the verses (“Model car, model wife, model village. Model far, model right, model village”, or, “He's not a racist but in the village. Gotta drive half-cut in the village”) before the band all comes together for yet another triumphant IDLES anthem on the chorus, tackling bigoted conservatives head-on (“I beg your pardon. I don't care about your rose garden. I’ve listened to the things you said. You just sound like you’re scared to death”).
Overdriven guitars dominate the track with the presence of subtle glitchy guitar effects only popping up occasionally on the verses (especially compared to the likes of earlier single Grounds), which makes it so much more exhilarating when it does happen. The chorus soars as everything comes together with the verses’ finicky guitar riffing turning into big loose chords being paired with an extremely tight rhythm section complimentary of bassist Adam Devonshire and drummer Jon Beavis. Talbot’s voice rings with an unmatched determination and vigour, even to the point of almost losing control on the second chorus, but he never quite does, and the result is a phenomenally passionate vocal performance throughout.
Legendary director Michel Gondry and his brother Oliver Gondry have also directed a stellar music video for Model Village which you can check out here:
More Reviews:
