Garbage : Let All That We Imagine Be the Light
Let All That We Imagine Be the Light, Garbage’s followup to 2021’s No Gods No Masters arrives after a long delay and a bit of rehabilitation. Though the album was originally slated for release in 2023, its recording process was pushed back due to touring obligations and lead singer Shirley Manson’s hip replacement surgery. Yet with its arrival comes confirmation that good things come to those who wait.
With the repeated mantra of “If you’re ready for love,” the album commences with the dance grooves of “There Is No Future in Optimism,” a clear reflection on the social upheaval of the 2020s. Nearing the decade’s halfway point, it’s a safe bet that a significant chunk of the population of the planet is very much ready for love—especially given that the alternative hasn’t led anywhere good. The electronic sounds of the album’s opener yields to searing slap bass and distorted guitars on “Chinese Fire Horse.” Of special interest here is its creative chord progression, which takes several unsuspected turns.
The industrial aesthetic of “Hold” showcases luscious production and seamlessly juxtaposes sludgy guitar sounds that would have been at home on a Big Black record, along with some beautiful acoustic parts. Listeners are taken back to the dancefloor for the fourth track, entitled “Have We Met (The Void)”, featuring a great chromatic synth line courtesy of Duke Erikson.
The dance party continues on “Sisyphus,” then suddenly comes to an end on “Radical,” a brooding half-time rocker that oozes attitude, and embeds the album’s title in its lyrics. The dark undertones subsist through “Love to Give,” which effortlessly blends electronic drums with grunge guitars to create a captivating listening experience both harmonically and dynamically.
“Get Out My Face AKA Bad Kitty” is both classic Garbage fare and in line with a more contemporary rock palette. The album closes with “The Day I Met God,” its most adventurous track both sonically and musically, ending Let All That We Imagine Be the Light on a high—a testament to Garbage’s longevity and continued relevance after the three decades in the game.
Label: Stun Volume
Year: 2025
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