In 2013, Soulwax was allowed to have their own radio station in “Grand Theft Auto V”. 12 years later, Gen Z is still waiting for the sixth edition of the popular open-world game, since then Oasis has returned and a reality TV Hansel has been elected US President twice.
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Now the siblings David and Stephen Dewaele from Belgium are releasing – five years after DEEWEE SESSIONS, VOL. 1 and still before GTA VI – their seventh album with the programmatic title ALL SYSTEMS ARE LYING. And Soulwax remain true to their DNA: electronic music with a focus on percussion, music that bangs, that rips, that goes all the way to twelve like the title song, and then conjures up wonderful disco and pop moments with a Pet Shop Boys habit (“Run Free”). “A rock album without electric guitars,” they say themselves, and they currently perform live with three (!) drums.
The band hasn’t been quiet since the last album, but has been on tour almost constantly. There were always first glimpses of the material at our own shows and at festivals. The album has grown from the real subject and sounds exactly the same – and makes you look forward to the next Soulwax shows!
This review first appeared in Musikexpress 11/2025.