After the success of their second album Primary Colours, The Horrors have released their latest offering, bringing in a crateload of keyboards. Changing The Rain sees singer Faris Badwan (seriously) unveil his great big Richard Butler (Psychedelic Furs) croon over a wash of keyboards and a trip-hoppy beat. It’s swiftly followed up by the self-consciously epic You Said with, it has to be said, somewhat cheesy keyboards over a bland tune with “meaningful” vocals, evoking 80s “never-weres” Then Jericho.
They haven’t completely abandoned the sound of Primary Colours. The excellent I Can See Through You mixes Human League keyboards and growling, backwards guitars with a Bowie-style chorus complete with “la la la las”. It’s an exhilarating listen and a sign of what The Horrors are capable of.
After a lengthy build up, akin to Interpol’s quieter moments, Endless Blue introduces a driving, trashy guitar over the lobotomized vocals. It’s a pity they don’t continue in this vein, as the oppressive keyboards and deep, moody vocals return to dominate the rest of the album.
Comparisons rear the ugly heads throughout the album. Still Life does a fair imitation of Simple Minds in their stadium phase, while Wild Eyed takes the spirit of the Blue Nile but drowns it with a horn section midway through.
They lose the run of themselves with the repetitive and drawn out Moving Further Away (seagull noises anyone?). Better is Monica Gems, just like early Suede with very Brett Anderson vocals and some killer riffs.
Bravely, they have not replicated the shoegazery Primary Colours. Mike Scott (Waterboys) waxed lyrical about ‘big’ music in the late 80s and it seems like the Horrors’ latest incarnation has taken its lead from this. At times, this album doesn’t work, but the bottom line is they’ve made an album that’s hard to ignore. An interesting and even, at times, enjoyable listen.
By Killian Laher.
Track listing:
1. Changing The Rain
2. You Said
3. I Can See Through You
4. Endless Blue
5. Dive In
6. Still Life
7. Wild Eyed
8. Moving Further Away
9. Monica Gems
10. Ocean’s Burning
