Editors - In This Light And On This Evening

I was in HMV the other day, looking to add to my vinyl collection/addiction. Whilst having a quick flick through the CDs (remember them?) I came across Editors' rather good second album "An End Has A Start". I was horrified to notice a "One For The Lads" promotional sticker slapped on the case, as if it were a Pigeon Detectives album or a Jeremy Clarkson "Edgy & Cool Driving Songs for The Middle Aged" compilation. Now anyone who knows Editors and their music will realise this is a horrific mistake; Editors are the purveyors of gloomy rock and slightly-epic stadium indie, with the occasional nod to Joy Division. They aren't for the typical "lad". I doubt you'll hear anyone of that persuasion enthusing about Chris Urbanowicz's guitar riffs or Tom Smith's doom-laden voice in the way they would about Oasis/The Prodigy/Kaiser Chiefs/*insert generic indie-pop-rock band with a few catchy hits here*.

Anyway, the point of that long -winded and ever-so-slightly discriminatory anecdote was to illustrate that despite the indie/hipster set's usual negative point about Editors (that they went a bit Coldplay and aimed for to be on those Clarkson comps), the band was still pretty far from universal fame/acceptance. Such a thing is now probably even further away due to third album "In This Light And On This Evening". Like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs earlier this year, Editors have gone all synth in the two years since "An End Has A Start". A bold and brave move, yes, but one that works? Most certainly.

The opening title track starts off with a low, throbbing synth and stays this way for the next two-thirds of the track before exploding into an apocalyptic breakdown which wouldn't be out of place in a futuristic, sci-fi film (the band have mentioned that the album is influenced by such films, and in particular the Terminator theme). The track consists of only one, repeated verse (" I swear to God, I heard the Earth inhale, moments before it spat its rain down on me/ I swear to God, in this light and on this evening, London's become, the most beautiful thing I've seen. ") with Smith's vocals sounding reverential, brooding and resigned at the same time. It sets the tone for the remaining 8 tracks, which all seem to twist and turn in many different directions. It doesn't exactly reach "Paranoid Android" or "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" proportions, but there were certainly a lot of ideas floating around in the album sessions.

Whilst the move towards electronic music will certainly lose them a few fans, "In This Light..." has some of Editors most accessible, poppy material. "Bricks And Mortar" would be a fantasic single, if it could be trimmed down from its 6:21 running time and the amazing-but-preposterously-titled "Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool", which is possibly Editors' best chorus yet. Lead single "Papillion" continues down the poppier route, but brings with it the morib lyrical side of the band. Never before in my mind have lines such as "You will choke, choke on the air you try to breathe" or "The world turns too fast, feel love before it’s gone" felt so at home in a pop song, and the chorus of "Darling, just don’t put down your guns yet/if there really was a God here/he’d have raised a hand by now" could have easily come from the pen of Richey Edwards.

Although for all the positives of the album, the novelty of 'Editors + synths' does grate after a while, with only Smith's lyrics and voice keeping some songs afloat (for example "The Big Exit" is saved just before the "skip" point by the powerful middle eighth, which is basically Smith singing alone, the electronic beeps barely in the background). Overall, "In This Light And On This Evening" is a great album, a near-classic. The only thing stopping it from reaching "classic" status is the overused synth elements (and the decision to not include "No Sound But The Wind") but from here, Editors can do pretty much anything with their sound, be it guitars, keyboards or something for the lad population, although I hope that road is blocked. Forever.
FOR FANS OF: Joy Division, White Lies, Interpol, Kraftwerk, Bloc Party
ESSENTIAL TRACKS: All, except "Like Treasure"
9

Watch The Tapes! feat. Girls, Editors, Mumford & Sons, Johnny Foreigner, Ash, Florence & The Machine, Lily Allen and Everything Everything

Yet another new post catergory type thing. Yeah, basically the best music videos of the past week or so shall be here for your enjoyment/derision/apathy. Obviously this week won't include Jamie T's "The Man's Machine" or Arctic Monkeys' "Cornerstone", as they've got their own posts because they're so special/I've only just thought of this now.

The "New Moon" soundtrack

So far, all that the "Twilight Saga" (as it's now known) has given us musically is Paramore's "Decode", which is reason enough to think about avoiding the New Moon OST. But one glance at its tracklisting is more than enough to get any indie fan hot under their checked shirt collar. Here are the choice tracks from one of the best soundtracks for a while



THE KILLERS - A WHITE DEMON LOVE SONG
So this is what they've been hiding up their sleeves. After the fairly dire Day & Age album, this is definitely a step back in the right direction for the Las Vegas foursome. Gone is the glitter and grandeur of the last album, replaced with a sombre tone that pops up in most great Killers songs. Tinkling ivories and a slow waltzing pace, along with an uplifting middle eight as well as a proper guitar solo and a bit of brass tacked on (I'm a sucker for brass instruments on pop songs. See; Maximo Park's Leeds set this year, Maccabees new album) make this a definite success and a nice stop-gap before the fourth album
8




BON IVER & ST. VINCENT - ROSLYN
New Bon Iver material is always a cause for celebration (ironic considering how Bon Iver sounds), and even though this was never going to be a massive step away from his previous songs, it's a welcome addition to the canon. A little bit countrified, thanks to the slide guitar section, "Rosyln" sounds more warm and welcoming than most songs on "For Emma, Forever Ago". This is most likely due to the spectral vocals of St. Vincent singer Annie Clark, who augments Bon Iver's typical template with ease. The only bad point is that it'll no doubt be used during a scene in which someone's looking around broodingly, or being a miserable queynte. It deserves so much better.
8.5




EDITORS - NO SOUND BUT THE WIND
This song first appeared at Editors gigs in 2008, but in a much different guise. It bore more of a resemblance to the Editors of old, motorik beats, squalling echo-drenched guitars and rumbling bass. In that arrangement, it was merely a very good Editors song, but as it is on this soundtrack, "No Sound But The Wind" become a thing of beauty. Consisting of just Tom Smith and a lone piano, the simple chords combined with Smith's powerful vocal propel this to the fore of Editors songs. How this didn't make it on to the new album is baffling. But once again, the single negative point is the association with the film, which you know will be awful, and with Robert "shite hair" Pattinson, who is awful.
9.5


And now for your enjoyment, and mostly mine, some rather hilarious Twilight pics/gifs.