IDLES x Magda Archer Brutalism

Toxic masculinity. Class divisions. Mental health. Bristol-formed band IDLES started recording their first album, Brutalism, in 2015. In the two years that followed, frontman Joe Talbot’s mother passed away, resulting in a turbulent state of grief that would come to shape the verbally blazon and emotionally raw album that then appeared in 2017. In the seven years since the release of Brutalism, Talbot’s words, in the context of the band’s music, have grown to represent a liberated show of vulnerability and an aggressive response to the societal ‘masculine’ ideal of silencing and withholding emotion. IDLES’ first ever book marks a new and exciting form of creative collaboration for the band. Breathing a different kind of life into Talbot’s fiery lyricism – with expressive typography, hot-pink ink and Magda Archer’s unique artworks – it shows that a book can be a work of art in itself. In this celebration and reinterpretation of the band’s first album, Magda Archer’s artwork enters a joyful and liberating shouting match with Talbot’s lyrics – an unexpected and bold conversation between two like-minded artists.