"Five" is the fifth studio album of the British post-punk band White Lies. Released on February 1, 2019, it represented a decade of music-making for the group. White Lies (Harry McVeigh - lead vocals, guitar, Charles Cave - bass guitar and backing vocals, Jack Lawrence-Brown - drums) has experimented with new songwriting styles, structures, and sounds in this album, which made it distinct from their previous work.
The album features ten tracks, including the lead single "Time to Give." It encapsulates themes like relationships, healing, and emotional self-discovery, woven around the band's signature dark, majestic soundscapes. The album was met with generally favorable reviews from critics, with many citing its creativity with layered synths, rich vocals, and compelling lyrical narratives. Despite being the band's fifth album, the title "Five" doesn't merely point to its position in their discography but connects to a recurrent theme of numerological significance throughout the record.
The recording process of the album started in the spring of 2018, in a recording space in Oxfordshire. Later, the band moved to London to finish the album. Co-produced by the band and engineer James Brown, known for his work with Arctic Monkeys and Foo Fighters, the album also includes additional production by Mikko Joensuu and Grammy Award-winning mix engineer Mark 'Spike' Stent.
In the course of its tracks, "Five" showcases a daring evolution in the band's sonic direction, opting for a more electronic approach but managing to preserve their distinct post-punk identity.
