Sisterworld marks not just the fifth full-length for Liars, but also the trio’s first album to be recorded in its entirety in the US since 2004’s They Were Wrong, So We Drowned. In a recent statement, lead vocalist Angus Andrew, guitarist Aaron Hemphill, and drummer Julian Gross—who headed to Los Angeles for the album’s creation—described Sisterworld as a representation of their own space, “completely devoid of influence, somewhere remote from the false promises and discarded dreams amassed in LA.” The album, written and recorded with John Brion and collaborator Tom Biller, explores the loss of self to society and celebrates the freedom that comes with it. The accompanying artwork insert amplifies the aforementioned concepts, with functional peepholes and photos of locked doors juxtaposed against a sprawling forest. Both music and artwork act as an invitation into the expanding world of Liars.

Sisterworld opens with the band’s first released single, “Scissors.” This intro track billows with welcoming, ethereal harmonies—not unlike those found on 2006’s Drums Not Dead—before jumping to visceral rock sounds reminiscent of their 2007 self-titled album. “Here Comes all the People” is amassed with eerie whispers and a menacing discord between instruments. As the guitar moves up and down a minor scale, nonchalant lyrics talk of “counting victims one by one.” The mood shifts just a degree darker for the following track, “Drip,” and while this one boasts a faster tempo, the lyrics are contained within a similar, sleepy delivery from Andrew.

The seventh track, a standout entitled “Proud Evolution,” starts with a slow and dramatic crescendo typical of Liars, but a minute and a half in, the beat emerges and the listener is treated to a layer-wealthy jam that is both catchy and clever. “The Overachievers,” the fastest of the tracks on the album, features carefree lyrics and a punky surfer feel, and collective chanting too. Here, the album shifts from its previous somber mood and eases into a more free-flowing experience. This juxtaposition meshes with their initial concept, from alienation to celebration. It’s all fun for these guys towards the end, and the last track, “Too Much, Too Much” is no exception. Playfully looped vocals and a bassoon track melt effortlessly into a synth, which itself fades into nothing.

Carefully placed momentary silences dapple the album, allowing for a natural sense of breathing room and before you know it, your 40-minute tour of Sisterworld is over, but it’s a trip you won’t soon forget.

Abe Vigoda
03/22 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue *
03/23 Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theater *
03/25 Chicago, IL – Riviera Theater *
03/26 Chicago, IL – Riviera Theater *
03/27 Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre *
03/29 Columbus, OH – The LC Pavilion *
03/30 Toronto, Ontario – The Sound Academy *
03/31 New York, NY – Mercury Lounge &
04/01 Boston, MA – Orpheum Theatre *
04/02 Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory *
04/03 Washington, DC – DAR Constitution Hall *
04/05 Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium *
04/06 Asheville, NC – Orange Peel *
04/08 Atlanta, GA – The Tabernacle *
04/09 New Orleans, LA – House of Blues *
04/10 Austin, TX – Stubbs, BBQ *
04/11 Dallas, TX – House of Blues *
04/13 Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theater *
04/14 Pamona, CA – Fox Theater *
04/19 Oakland, CA – Fox Theater *
04/20 Oakland, CA – Fox Theater *

* w/ Vampire Weekend
& w/ Effi Briest and Cloud Nothings

Cursive
02/17 Los Angeles, CA – House of Blues *
02/18 San Francisco, CA – Regency Ballroom *
02/19 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom *
02/20 Seattle, WA – Neumo’s *
02/23 Boise, ID – Knitting Factory *
02/24 Salt Lake City, UT – In the Venue *
02/25 Denver, CO – Gothic Theatre *
02/26 Lawrence, KS – Granada Theater *
02/27 Chicago, IL – Metro *
02/28 Chicago, IL – Metro *
03/02 Royal Oak, MI – Royal Oak *
03/03 Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall *
03/04 Cleveland, OH – House of Blues *
03/05 Pittsburgh, PA – Club Zoo *
03/06 Toronto, Ontario – Phoenix Concert Theatre *
03/08 Clifton Park, NY – Northern Light *
03/09 Hartford, CT – Webster Theatre *
03/11 Philadelphia, PA – Tracadero *
03/12 New York, NY – Nokia Theatre *
03/13 Sayreville, NJ – Starland *
03/14 Providence, RI – Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel *
03/16 Towson, MD – Recher Theatre *
03/17 Charlotte, NC – Amos’ Southend *
03/18 Charleston, SC – Music Farm *
03/19 Atlanta, GA – Masquerade *
03/20 Jacksonville Beach, FL – Freebird Live *
03/22 Orlando, FL – House of Blues *
03/23 Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution *
03/25 New Orleans, LA – House of Blues *
03/26 Houston, TX – Warehouse Live *
03/27 Dallas, TX – Palladium Ballroom *
03/28 Austin, TX – Emo’s *
03/30 Tempe, AZ – The Marquee *
04/01 San Diego, CA – House of Blues *
04/02 Los Angeles – House of Blues *
04/03 Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues *

* w/ Alkaline Trio

Liars
04/10 Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theater
04/14 Washington, DC – Rock & Roll Hotel
04/15 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
04/16 Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church
04/17 Boston, MA – Paradise
04/18 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
04/27 San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
04/29 Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater
04/20 Vancouver, BC – Venue
05/01 Seattle, WA – Neumos

Image by Steve Gullick

Mayer Hawthorne
05/05 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Melkweg
05/07 Mulhouse, France – Le Noumatrouf
05/08 Nantes, France – Olympic
05/10 Lille, France – L’Aeronef Club
05/11 Paris, France – Trabendo
05/12 Lyon, France – Les Nuits Sonres Festival
05/13 Marseille, France – Espace Julien
05/14 Madrid, Spain – Heineken Arena
05/16 Bilbao, Spain – Kafe Antzokia
05/18 Zurich, Switzerland – Abart
05/19 Munich, Germany – Crux
05/20 Berlin, Germany – Festsaal Kreuzberg
05/21 Vienna, Austria – Porgy & Bess
05/22 Antwerp, Belgium – Petrol
05/23 Münster, Germany – Skaters Place
05/25 London, England – ULU
05/26 Glasgow, Scotland – King Tut’s
05/27 Manchester, England – Ruby Lounge
05/28 Leeds, England – Hifi Club
05/29 Birmingham, England – Academy

Past Lives
02/18 Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge *
02/23 Seattle, WA – Sonic Boom Capitol Hill, In-Store 7pm
03/12 St. Augustine, FL – Harvest of Hope Festival
03/14 Portland, OR – East End $
03/15 San Francisco, CA – Elbo Room $
03/16 San Diego, CA – Casbah
03/17 Phoenix, AZ – Trunk Space
03/18 El Paso, TX – Dominics Piano Bar
03/20 Austin, TX – SXSW
03/21 San Antonio, TX – Ten Eleven
03/23 Kansas City, MO – Record Bar ^#
03/24 St. Louis, MO – Firebird #
03/25 Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge ^
03/26 Milwaukee, WI – Miramar Theatre ^
03/27 Grand Rapids, MI – DAAC ^
03/28 Detroit, MI – Majestic Theatre ^
03/29 Cleveland – Now That’s Class ^
03/30 Rochester, NY – The Bug Jar ^
04/01 Toronto, ON – The Garrison
04/02 Montreal, QC – Casa Del Popolo
04/03 Pittsburgh, PA – Garfield Artworks
04/04 Washington, DC – DC9
04/05 Charlotte, NC – Snug Harbor
04/06 Atlanta, GA – 529
04/07 Orlando, FL – The Social **
04/08 Tallahassee, FL – Club Downunder **
04/09 Gainesville, FL – Rion Ballroom at University of Florida **
04/10 St. Augustine, FL – Café Eleven **
04/12 Wilmington, NC – Soapbox **
04/13 Carrboro, NC – Cats Cradle **
04/14 Charlottesville, VA – The Southern **
04/15 Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church Sanctuary **
04/16 Baltimore, MD – Otto Bar **
04/17 Hamden, CT – The Space **
04/18 Cambridge, MA – Middle East **
04/20 Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl **
04/22 Princeton, NJ – Terrace Club at Princeton University
04/23 Columbus, OH – Cafe Bourbon St.
04/25 Minneapolis, MN – 7th St. Entry

* w/ The Oh Sees
$ w/ Get Hustle
^ w/ Air Waves
# w/ So Cow
** w/ The Thermals

Image by Ian Ferguson

She & Him
03/15 Los Angeles, CA – Largo
03/25 Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theater
03/27 Savannah, GA – Savannah Music Festival
03/29 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
03/30 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
04/15 Pomona, CA – The Glass House
04/16 Indio, CA – Coachella Festival
04/26 Madrid, Spain – Joy Eslava
04/27 Barcelona, Spain – Sala Apolo
04/30 Berlin, Germany – Lido
05/01 Copenhagen, Denmark – Vega
05/03 Stockholm, Sweden – Kagelbanan
05/04 Oslo, Norway – Cosmopolite
05/08 Minehead, England – Butlins (ATP Festival)
06/11 Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo Music Festival

Image by Taea Thale

Ted Leo
03/11 Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop *
03/12 Pontiac, MI – The Crofoot *
03/13 Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge *
03/14 Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon *
03/15 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue *
03/18 Spokane, WA – The Blvd
03/19 Seattle, WA – Neumo’s *
03/20 Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge *
03/21 Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge *
03/23 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall ^
03/24 Santa Barbara, CA – Soho Restaurant & Music Club #^
03/26 Pomona, CA – Glass House ^
03/27 West Hollywood, CA – Troubadour ^
03/28 Tucson, AZ – Club Congress ^
03/30 Dallas, TX – House of Blues $!
03/31 Austin, TX – Parish Room $!
04/02 New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jacks $
04/03 Tallahassee, FL – Club Downunder $
04/04 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade $
04/05 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle $
04/07 Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church %
04/08 Washington, DC – 930 Club %
04/09 New York, NY – Irving Plaza %
04/10 Boston, MA – Paradise %

* w/ Title Tracks
^ w/ Bleached
# w/ Titus Andronicus
$ w/ Screaming Females
! w/ Sally Crewe & the Sudden Moves
% w/ Obits

Image by Matt Jordan

Wild Beasts
02/10 Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
02/11 San Francisco, CA – The Independent
02/13 Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
02/14 Seattle, WA – Chop Suey
02/17 Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry
02/18 Chicago, IL – Schubas
02/19 Cihcago, IL – Schubas
02/20 Detroit, MI – Pike Room
02/22 Toronto, Ontario – Horseshoe Tavern
02/23 Montreal, Quebec – Il Motore
02/24 Boston, MA – Great Scott
02/25 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brendas
02/26 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
02/27 Washington, DC – Black Cat
02/28 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg

Image by Tom Beard

Sisterworld is out March 9 via Mute. An expanded version of the album, which will be available at the same time, features the likes of Atlas Sound, Thom Yorke, Devendra Banhart, Alan Vega, and others reworking tracks from the album.