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| Liars (band) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Liars |
| Origin | Brooklyn, New York, United States |
| Genres | Experimental rock, noise rock, post-punk, electronic |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Labels | Mute Records, Arts & Crafts, Sub Pop, Sargent House |
| Associated acts | Apparat, Depeche Mode, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV on the Radio |
Liars (band) is an American experimental rock group formed in 2000 in Brooklyn, New York City. The group gained attention for shifting post-punk and noise aesthetics across albums released on Mute Records, Arts & Crafts, and Sargent House. Their work intersects scenes around No Wave, post-punk revival, and electronic music, drawing collaborations and comparisons with acts like Liars (band) contemporaries and producers tied to BBC Radiophonic Workshop-influenced sound design.
Liars formed after members migrated from projects in Los Angeles, Sydney, and San Francisco to Brooklyn, where founders met via connections to Sub Pop-adjacent tours and the Independent music circuit. Early releases on Germans-influenced labels led to connections with producers who worked with Depeche Mode and Nine Inch Nails, prompting experimental sessions in studios used by Throbbing Gristle alumni. Touring stints included festivals such as Pitchfork Music Festival, SXSW, and All Tomorrow's Parties, and residencies at venues like Knitting Factory and Mercury Lounge. Lineup changes paralleled relocations and recording projects in Berlin, Los Angeles, and Melbourne, with members collaborating with artists from Animal Collective, Autechre, and Arca-adjacent networks.
The band's sound blends elements of post-punk, noise rock, and electronic music, often citing influences from Joy Division, Can, Brian Eno, Black Dice, and My Bloody Valentine. Production approaches recall techniques used by Steve Albini and Brian Eno while incorporating modular synthesis methods associated with studios used by Kraftwerk and Throbbing Gristle. Vocal delivery and lyrical themes draw comparisons to David Bowie, Iggy Pop, and Patti Smith, whereas rhythmic experimentation aligns with Public Image Ltd. and Steve Reich-inspired polyrhythms. The group has referenced film and literature influences, including works by Andrei Tarkovsky, David Lynch, and William S. Burroughs in interviews and liner notes.
The band's discography includes studio albums, EPs, and singles released on labels such as Mute Records, Arts & Crafts, Sargent House, and Sub Pop. Major studio albums were produced with engineers and mixers who have worked with Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, and The xx, and have appeared on compilation releases alongside artists from Rough Trade and Domino Recording Company. Their recorded output has been issued in formats appreciated by collectors in the vinyl revival movement, with limited editions distributed via independent record stores associated with Independent record labels.
Over time the ensemble featured musicians who collaborated with or came from bands like Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV on the Radio, The Rapture, and Interpol. Members pursued side projects and session work with producers linked to Mute Records alumni and artists associated with Warp Records and Lex Records. Guest contributors on recordings included instrumentalists who have performed with Sonic Youth-adjacent acts and experimental ensembles tied to the No Wave and downtown New York scenes.
Live shows emphasized improvisation and multimedia elements, often staged at venues frequented by acts from post-punk revival and experimental music circles such as Marquee Club-type rooms and contemporary festival stages including Coachella and Glastonbury stages devoted to alternative lineups. Touring partners included bands from Sub Pop and Mute Records rosters, and the group undertook headline tours in Europe, North America, and Australia with festival appearances at Primavera Sound and Roskilde Festival. Their stage presentations incorporated visual collaborators from galleries associated with MoMA PS1 and New York's Whitney Museum-adjacent performance series.
Critical responses appeared in outlets historically covering alternative music scenes such as NME, Pitchfork, The Wire, Rolling Stone, and The Guardian, with reviews situating the band among innovators in experimental rock alongside Sonic Youth, Can, and Swans. Their influence is cited by emerging artists operating within post-punk revival, noise rock, and experimental electronic communities, and their aesthetic informed curatorial choices at festivals featuring artists from Mute Records and Warp Records. Retrospectives in music press and academic discussions of contemporary musicology and sound art reference the group's body of work when examining crossovers between rock instrumentation and modular electronic composition.
Category:American experimental rock groups Category:Musical groups from Brooklyn Category:Artists signed to Mute Records