Album Review :: The Horrors - Luminous

The Horrors

Luminous

May 5 2014 (XL)

7.5/10

Words: Alison Mack

Dalston's famous five let out a 'Luminous' stream days before release; often, it has to be said, a sign that a label is not entirely happy or sure of sales and wants to get the advance party going. And indeed, with this fourth album bearing the weight of the long gap in between it and its predecessor, 2011's 'Skying', plus a lengthy 15 month-long recording process, a lot can be seen to be riding on its reception.

So is it a case here of 'Luminous' by name and luminous enough along its ten track route to put The Horrors back on top of the pile?  There is enough of the psych-washed colours certainly to keep it afloat. Opener 'Chasing Shadows' is three minutes-worth of displaced sparkling swirling synths that work their effect as if, as the title suggests, they are elusively in pursuit of something just out of reach; while 'So Now You Know' takes on spaced out, anthemic proportions.

The familiar Horrors sound of guitars and interwoven motorik rhythms are still much to the fore, whether in shimmering form on 'Jealous Sun' (reminiscent of Mercury-nominated second album 'Primary Colours') or the hazy swoons of  'First Day Of Spring'. As a contrast, 'In And Out Of Sight' is rather like stepping off the psych train at an 80s disco stop, full of electronic beats - thus presumably fulfilling bassist Rhys Webb's wish of making an album of "music you can dance to, music that elevates". Which is certainly fitting for lead single ‘I See You’,  with Faris Badwan riding over a seven minute echoing riff tsunami with lines like, "Every movement seems to be for you.

Ultimately, 'Luminous' is a fair enough packaged collection, but there is the feeling that it may also be something of a Marmite one that will not be to the tastes of all. Flavoursome, yes, but too much of the same can become monotonous and unappetizing after too many repeats.