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Band: Mesh
Album title: The Truth Doesn't Matter
Release date: 27 March 2026
Label: Dependent Records
Genre: Synth-Pop, EBM
Tracklist:
01. The Truth Doesn't Matter
02. A Storm Is Coming
03. I Lost A Friend Today
04. Polygraph
05. Trying To Save You
06. Bury Me Again (feat. Mari Kattman)
07. I Bleed Through You
08. Kill Us With Silence
09. 1031030
10. This World
11. Exile
12. Everything As It Should Be
13. Hey Stranger
14. Cipher
15. Not Everyone Is Lonely
16. Be Kind
Welcome to synth‑pop heaven.
The English duo Mesh, who have been delighting the ears of dark‑minded synth‑pop devotees since 1991, began when vocalist/guitarist Mark Hockings and keyboardist/vocalist Richard Silverthorn discovered both a friendship and a shared sonic language. That creative partnership has defined Mesh’s enduring legacy ever since. Today, Mark and Richard continue that journey, and their new album, The Truth Doesn’t Matter, released via Dependent Records, bursts forth like a dazzling firework while subtly reflecting three decades of electronic music. Mesh remains instantly recognisable, preserving the distinctive musical identity and signature sound they have been refining since the early nineties.
Whether you’ve followed Mesh for years or are encountering them for the first time, know this: The Truth Doesn’t Matter is arguably their most accomplished and most melodic work to date. Every track lodges itself firmly in your mind, leading to spontaneous whistling, humming, and the occasional public outburst of its irresistibly catchy choruses. If you love synth‑pop, EBM, darkwave, 80s new wave, 90s electronic experimentation, or artists such as Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Beborn Beton, Massive Attack, A‑Ha, Covenant, VNV Nation, Pet Shop Boys, New Order, or the newer wave of electro-pop and darkwave creators, you simply cannot go wrong with Mesh.
The album delivers 16 tracks, including three shorter interludes that offer breathing space and guide the listener deeper into a world where hypnotic dance rhythms, heart‑piercing melodies, warm melancholy, thrilling choruses, cinematic industrial touches, and soaring vocal lines — at times reminiscent of a darker Pet Shop Boys — intertwine into a coherent, smooth, and deeply satisfying musical experience. And it’s not just the music: as the title The Truth Doesn’t Matter suggests, the album hints at a conceptual thread reflecting our post‑truth era, a theme that occasionally colours the darker undertones of these new songs. What remains undeniably true is the duo’s almost uncanny ability to craft electronic hits that are as elegant as they are enchanting.
Mesh stay true to themselves while elevating their sound with modern production and exceptional songwriting. The opening title track, with its hypnotic, bombastic pulse, is so infectious it barely lets you breathe. And then there’s the astonishing “Bury Me Again”, featuring Mari Kattman, where they conjure a priceless slice of melancholic electronic pop — a near‑ceremonial dark‑pop anthem charged with an absolutely out of this world emotional intensity. Deep, commanding basslines hold the rhythm beneath rich layers and addictive melodies, urging the listener to move. This shines especially in the lighter tracks such as “Trying To Save You”, the irresistibly catchy “I Bleed Through You” with its clear 80s new‑wave DNA, “Everything As It Should Be”, and uplifting “Exile”. Mark and Richard also deliver heart‑rending emotional moments in “I Lost A Friend Today”, “Hey Stranger”, and “Not Everyone Is Lonely”. The album closes triumphantly with the vibrant, dance‑ready EBM anthem “Be Kind”.
Be warned: The Truth Doesn’t Matter is highly addictive and may significantly improve your quality of life. It works beautifully anywhere — at home in an armchair with headphones, on a club dancefloor, or simply as a soundtrack to your daily tasks. It always fits, because it’s unobtrusive, focused, and free of unnecessary filler. I can already say with confidence that this is one of the best synth‑pop albums of the year — alongside the excellent Aftermath by Beyond Border. In fact, I’ll go even further: for me personally, The Truth Doesn’t Matter is one of the finest synth‑pop albums ever released.
Review by Tomaz
Rating: 9,5/10
