Originally released in July 2022, The Other Side Of Make-Believe is New York-based indie rock Interpol’s seventh studio album. Produced by Mark "Flood" Ellis (Depeche Mode, U2, The Smashing Pumpkins) and mixed by Alan Moulder (My Bloody Valentine, Nine-Inch Nails, Foo Fighters), the album was recorded between September 2021 and January 2022 at Battery Studios in London.
In a first for Interpol, The Other Side Of Make-Believe is available in both traditional two-channel stereo and Dolby Atmos. Though the Atmos mix has been available to stream since 2022, we at IAA are thrilled to now offer the album as an exclusive immersive digital download through our online shop!
While streaming services offer convenience and access to a vast library of music, they also severely compress the audio to save bandwidth. With lossless Dolby TrueHD, the inner detail and sonic clarity is much better preserved for home listeners.
Some elements, such as the backing vocals in the front height speakers towards the end of "Fables," clearly expose limitations within the 768 kbps Dolby Digital Plus/JOC codec used for immersive streaming. As shown in the short samples below (front height channels only), the detail and clarity is much better preserved for home listeners with lossless Dolby TrueHD.
Dolby TrueHD (IAA Digital Download)
Dolby Digital+/JOC (Streaming)
The opening track and first single “Toni” sets the template for the immersive presentation, with the rhythm section of drummer Sam Fogarino and bassist Paul Banks spread across the front stage. Daniel Kessler’s piano extends out into the left side surround, while Banks’ voice stays upfront and an electric guitar appears in the back of the room. Backing vocals pop up in the rear heights towards the end to fun effect.
Electric guitars are pushed out towards the sides for “Fables,” as vocal delays and ambience hit off the back wall. “Into The Night” and “Mr. Credit” follow a similar approach, engaging the side surrounds for rhythm guitars. In the former track, some background vocals appear isolated in the front heights during the chorus.
The Other Side Of Make-Believe is the sixth entry in an ongoing series of high-resolution digital immersive releases from IAA and Beggars Group, one of the world's largest and most-respected independent label groups. Beggars Group is home to 4AD, Matador Records, Rough Trade, XL Recordings and Young, as well as a growing publishing wing (Beggars Music) and a successful catalog imprint (Beggars Arkive).
Many more new album releases from Beggars Group are already available to stream in Dolby Atmos, including key titles from landmark artists such as FKA Twigs, The Libertines, Sapha, Daughter, and more. Over the coming months, we plan to make more of this fantastic immersive catalog available in hi-res downloadable form through our online shop.
Purchase The Other Side Of Make-Believe in the IAA Shop!
