It’s been under three years since Idiotape released 11111101 and their return with Tours shows a noticeable change. Tours is a evolution of the sound by the trio seen on “Proof.” It’s still the combination of two producers behind synthesizers and supported with a drum set, but there’s an overall different feeling with the album.

One big difference is that the synth loops feel more melodic than the previous full-length. You can still hear 11111101 sounds with “Boiling Point,” but that song doesn’t feel the need to constantly push the same rhythm and plays with it more. The song takes more time to dwell on each verse. This is the same on “Airdrome.” It has the Idiotape core, but has a different feeling. The slower tempo allows the song to explore the full beat rather than be in a rush to hit the next verse.

There has been a change somewhere with the band, whether that be in how they recorded the album, but Tours feels “cleaner” in the way that the songs sound. It’s less harsh on the ears and it’s easier to hear individual elements on songs. But nothing has changed with the energy that comes across in the song arrangement. Every song is distinct and it’s easy to recognize. While you may not know the actual song title, you can tell the difference between each one.

Tours is an evolution from 11111101 and that’s a great thing. 11111101 is an excellent album, but after so long it wouldn’t be fun to hear that album repeated in new songs. Tours shows that Idiotape can create interesting and addictive songs with tools that most people don’t know how to use. If the album is the only way you can ever hear the band, then you need to get it. But if you ever have a chance to see them live, it’s an entirely different kind of energy that you’ll experience.

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