Soulwax – Pills And People Gone

Find “Pills And People Gone” by Soulwax on plusfm, taken from the album “All Systems Are Lying“.

Label: Soulwax
© 2025 Soulwax under exclusive license to Because Music.

Soulwax – Pills And People Gone

After years spent producing albums for others (Marie Davidson, Bolis Pupul and Hot Chip), brothers David and Stephen Dewaele have finally returned to their own work with a follow-up to From Deewee, their first album from their new Ghent studio/home, released in 2017. That album, recorded in a single take with three drummers, set a high bar.

For All Systems Are Lying, Soulwax set themselves an entirely new challenge: making a rock record without a single electric guitar. The result is composed exclusively of modular synths, manipulated vocals, and live drums played by Max Cavalera, co-founder of the cult Brazilian metal band Sepultura (which doesn’t hurt).

Following an airy introduction, the album’s concept begins to take shape. It’s easy to imagine that rock with synths in place of guitars would easily drift into synthpop territory (indeed, Soulwax deliver charming 80s-flavored hooks on “Run Free” and “Gimme a Reason” ) or begin to sound like Kraftwerk (as on the title track).

However, the band’s real triumph is making their synths actually sound like electric guitars on tracks like “Polaris”, “The False Economy”, and “Idiots in Love”, which pulse with a distinct LCD Soundsystem energy. With clear intent, well-crafted songs, and a willingness to push boundaries, All Systems Are Lying is more than enough to win over fans old and new.

© Smaël Bouaici / Qobuz