We’ve all been there. You’re scrolling down Instagram. You see food, adverts, pets, artwork, and before long, you witness that post. The ex-partner with someone new. Someone better. Someone who just isn’t you. You move to unfollow their account but can’t bring yourself to do it. You still feel attached to the person. You have history. You want to know that they’re okay. But seeing them with someone else, it’s heartbreaking. You try to look away but can’t. Scrolling becomes self-torture. What can you do? Well, you could take that experience, put it through a chorus pedal, add a heap of melancholy, and you would have Born Idiot’s new single, I’d Rather Lie.
Sounding like summer rain, I’d Rather Lie is a simplistic display of bedroom indie-pop but cranked up to eleven. The beautifully delicate synth chords, the tip-tap drum backbeat and melodic bass intertwine, set the pace and create a fuzzy curtain around the senses that is audibly pleasant and almost meditative. This is juxtaposed with a droning, low vocal delivery that tells a post-modern tale of dealing with the collapse of a romantic relationship while being constantly reminded by social media of that failure and ironically attempting to utilise the platform for comfort. The song skirts along, adding a smattering of pretty, sparkly melodies and guitars drenched with every indie effect. With a pain-filled vocal cue, the track takes off and goes from bedroom pop to football field pop. It grows and grows, adding luscious guitar solos and echo-drenched harmonies before coming to a sorrowful conclusion.
I’d Rather Lie is a stumble through a rainy summer’s eve. The rich and dreamy textures surround a relatable account of romantic suffering, effectively caused by our own ambition and need to involve everyone in our lives. Ultimately, we are our own suffering. “I’d rather lie and tell you shit about my new life, than telling me I need some time”.
