As a followup to 2017’s “From Deewee,” Belgian brothers David and Stephen Dewaele released “All Systems Are Lying” on 17 October 2025 as none other than Soulwax. Since their inaugural 1996 “Leave the Story Untold,” the duo have risen as one of the most influential electronic music contemporaries.
Working alongside equally talented individuals including James Murphy, Chloë Sevigny, Peaches, Daft Punk, and WhoMadeWho, Soulwax’s presence is undoubtedly in a league of their own. With this, they’ve been able to propel musicians such as Bolis Pupul and Charlotte Adigery under their own Deewee label.
As expected, “All Systems Were Lying” was met with much anticipation. This is especially due to the positive reception of “From Deewee” with single “Is It Always Binary.” Given this context, “All Systems Are Lying” doesn’t feel like a natural progression. In fact, the album as a whole is more fragmented than anything else they’ve put out before, but that’s the whole point.
The playful self-awareness of Soulwax
That’s not to say “All Systems Are Lying” doesn’t carry Soulwax’s signature sound and energy. If you’re a diehard fan, you’ll connect with this album. With this, it’s important to suspend all expectations of what’s ahead when listening. This is because the pair cooked up an entirely new formula for this album with a bit of tongue-in-cheek playfulness.
For one, there’s no electric guitars at all. The record is composed entirely of modular synths, live drums, tape machines, and processed vocals. This choice pushes the songwriting away from more hard electro elements towards moments of light, fluttering pop sounds. It’s also used to trick the listener and pull them back to the title “All Systems Are Lying.”
All Systems Are Lying
As a statement to Soulwax fans and society at a large, “All Systems Are Lying,” holds up a mirror and challenges belief systems. Through the 14 track journey, they’re telling listeners to not take everything so seriously and let go. In this sense it’s a bit of an open ended letter waiting for your reply. Check it out on your favourite streaming service.