New York, NY · post-punk revival · indie rock · post-punk · indie-rock

Interpol

1 upcoming festival

Early-2000s New York at its most funereal and best-dressed — interlocking guitars, Paul Banks's monotone, and no wasted motion, 'Turn On the Bright Lights' still immaculate.

Interpol formed in New York in 1997 around Paul Banks, guitarist Daniel Kessler and bassist Carlos Dengler, with Sam Fogarino joining on drums shortly afterwards. Their 2002 debut, Turn On the Bright Lights, released by Matador, became one of the defining records of the era's post-punk revival, built on interlocking guitar lines, high melodic bass and Banks's flat, deadpan baritone.

Antics followed in 2004 and Our Love to Admire in 2007, after which the band moved to a major label and then back to Matador; Dengler left in 2010. Their sound has stayed recognisable across later albums — taut, grey-toned and tightly arranged — and the group remains closely identified with early-2000s New York.

post-punk revivalindie rockpost-punkindie-rock