‘Good Lies’: Overmono’s Dynamic Debut LP

Written by Peter Garcia, Photography by Elliot Morgan

The recent social media explosion of artists like Four Tet and Fred Again is only a whisper of the absolute torrent of electronic music released from the United Kingdom. Another group made their Coachella debut in the shadows of the 2023 mainstage headliners. Seeking to shine through with evocative melodies and bold sonic experimentation is the dynamic Welsh music duo Overmono, comprised of Tessela (Ed Russell) and Truss (Tom Russell). 

The two brothers grew up divided by separated parents in the small town of Monmouth. Though ten years apart in age, an upbringing close to music initiated by their dad kept them close together as they both developed solo careers in the budding electronic scene. Almost eight years after an inauguratory writing retreat, their highly awaited debut album Good Lies is releasing on XL. With their first endeavor, the duo seeks to upend any monotony associated with the genre, combining each brother’s virtuosity into an opus exemplifying stunning precision and infused with rave-tinged divergence. 

On Good Lies, Overmono stretches from deafening laser machine-certified club hits (“Skulled”, “So U Know”) to low sprawling electronic environments like “Sugarushhh,” enveloping your mind with asymmetric stereo percussion and arpeggiation. Rhythms cover every base: breaky garage and two-step, jungle, lo-fi trap, and dancehall. 

The intro, “Feelings Plain,” is hardly a fully-fledged track but teases themes in both production and emotion. First comes the incessant vocal chop, which will come to be an essential ingredient to most of the tracks on the album. As a voice repeats, “And I thought that we could reason, and I needed somebody to believe in,” a triumphant series of chords carries the tension higher and higher, only kept in time by a single 808 drum. Then, it fades, launching into the project.  

Comfort lies in what is familiar, and the duo showcases their prowess in shaking the walls of crowded dark warehouses at the higher energy points of the album. “Is You” slaps you across the face with distorted and droning bass, then gifts an icepack of fuzzy atmospheres and pads in the B section. Breakout 2021 single “So U Know” follows the same pattern, showcasing crisp drums and a sustained but catchy vocal chop held together by a twinkling ambiance and a deeply rooted bass. 

This isn’t to say that the album is absent of risks. “Arla Fearn” is sparse, centered around a haunting, undulating bass and cavernous percussion reminiscent of early Burial. It’s a seamless alloy of bass, techno, and ‘intelligent’ dance music (IDM), complete with incoherent, effect-shrouded vocals and cacophonous bleeps and bloops in the left and right ears. 

The title track is a classic breakbeat accented UK anthem, reminiscent of Tessela’s solo work. The duo resample vocals from XL labelmate Smerz, but orchestrate a new elevating and pneumatic backing track with an echoing bassline that you can’t help but bounce your head to. 

Good Lies is a testament to Overmono’s innovative spirit. With this debut album, the brothers showcase an evolution, ranging from pulsating pop-ish club anthems to introspective soundscapes, ideal for dissecting into minute sample-sized details. The duo’s ability to seamlessly blend genres is alone reason enough to cement them as one of the most exciting acts in contemporary electronic music. Good Lies is a solidly crafted debut album that will undoubtedly stand the test of time.