New Music: The Horrors

When I first heard The Horrors, it was because I fell in love with their gothy dark antics on their 2009 album Primary Colors.  It was in the tradition of those Joy Division influenced bands that I can't seem to get enough of and I was into it.  Critics loved it too and it was even nominated for a Mercury Prize in the UK.  Many times, this kind of pressure fucks with bands' heads and they try to recreate the same thing for their follow-up.  Not with The Horrors.  Instead, they took what was good and made it better, creating one of my favorite records this year, Skying. 

I literally cannot get enough of this record.  It makes my big black soul smile and brings a sort of moodiness to the summer days that makes me feel like I'm in Northern England on a winter day.  The evolution of their sound, while still dark and moody, almost makes Primary Colors seem boilerplate.  There's balance between the shoegazy crushing guitars and the rich psychedelic landscape of melody and romance, resulting in a sort of brit-poppiness and hooks that are catchy as hell.  I can't help but hear an homage to Psychedelic Furs and Echo & the Bunnymen alongside bands like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club or Sonic Youth. 

Skying is like a sonic roller coaster; it takes you really high, really low and surprises you along the way.  Opener "Changing the Rain" is slow and steady with luscious serenading keyboards that suck you in, creating a sense of calm and peacefulness. This peacefulness continues until "I Can See Through You," which is like a giant wave of synth, bowling you over. God, I love that song!  Then there's "Endless Blue" which tricks you with a soft melody and suddenly rips into banging, crushing guitars.**

**Note from Jeannie:  I'm not sure if The Horrors know of The Wedding Present, but this song is so reminiscent of David Gedge's patented crushing guitars, that they might owe him a big giant "Thank You."  Just sayin.

That said, it's probably my favorite song on the record.  A close second, tied with "I Can See Through You," is the first single "Still Life."  It's one of those songs that you can listen to over and over and not get sick of. And, it's what I like to call Jeannie-Emo or "Jemo."

"Under a sky, no one sees
Waiting, watching it happening
Don’t hurry give it time
Things are the way they have to be
Slow down, give it time
Still life, you know I’m listening
The moment that you want is coming if you give it time

When you wake up
When you wake up
You will find me

When you wake up
When you wake up
You will find me"

Seriously?  Love it.  Other favorites are "Wild Eyed" and "Moving Further Away."   But, I have to say that the record as a whole is pretty freaking fantastic and I've been listening to it NON-STOP since they started streaming it pre-release.  Now I am just looking forward to September when they are hitting the US to tour.  Gloomy FTW!