SKYING

Description

"Changing the Rain": changing the rain, or rather leaving it behind and turning towards the sun. The first track of The Horrors' third album leaves no doubt: the time of assassins is over and, if it's not yet time for cherries, the English quintet joyfully enters a new era. Gone is the gothic pomp of "Strange House" (2007) and the obscure blur of the highly successful "Primary Colours" (2009), produced by Geoff Barrow; "Skying" still delves into the intricacies of past British music (My Bloody Valentine, The Stone Roses, Jesus & the Mary Chain...) but reinvents it with an even more palatable twist than usual. More mature? It's not impossible, as the members of The Horrors have celebrated four years of existence, a milestone unfortunately few bands surpass. Not content with simply lasting, they even strive to infuse their music with psychedelia, shoegaze, punk, grunge, new wave... without causing the worst kind of dizziness. "You Said", a ballad in windy peaks; "I Can See through You", a post-rock storm; "Endless Blue", an unpredictable cloud mass; "Still Life", a shimmering rainbow; "Monica Gems", a decadent punk whirlwind. And "Oceans Burning", the ultimate celestial celebration... The sky is in all its states - like The Horrors, who deliver more intimate lyrics than usual. The length of the tracks, meanwhile, is always over four minutes, and can soar to nearly nine minutes (the intriguing "Moving Further Away"): is the rock band defending itself against having made a pop album? Which is, however, and despite everything, the case. Distorted, mistreated, denied pop, but very much present. Written, recorded, and produced near London, Skying bathes in a hazy, timeless atmosphere, beyond laws, beyond genres, while remaining deeply marked by The Horrors' characteristics. Faris Badwan's nonchalant and distant crooner vocals, guitars manipulated to the point of scratching, sometimes muffled drums, whimsical synthesizers... All of this places The Horrors among the so-called indie bands to watch closely. Sophie Rosemont - Copyright 2017 Music Story