O Monolith cover

O Monolith

Released

Squid’s second album, 2023’s O Monolith, found the UK quintet easily balancing the post-punk/dance-shaded intensity they’d made part of their regular aesthetic with demonstrating further how to make quieter approaches work in turn, as with the tense interplay on “The Blades,” the cresting double build of “Siphon Song” or the focused funk/motorik rhythm underpinning “Undergrowth.” Ollie Judge’s singing retains its melodically conversational flow, veering from contemplative murmuring to yelping intensity as desired to striking effect.

Ned Raggett

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