Album
The Horrors
V
September 22 2017 (Wolftone/Caroline)
8/10
Words: Alison Mack
Paul Epworth brings a production flourish to the fifth full-length outing for The Horrors which sees them drawing on a raft of influences. Faris Badwan has refined his voice over the last four Horrors albums (along with his own Cats Eyes project), and here, as on 'Machine' sounds strong and vital. On opener ‘Hologram’ originally a 25-minute extravagant house number - there's a Depeche Mode covering Gary Nyman vogue channelled, as he questions, “Are we hologram? Are we vision?”
From the jangly funk of ‘Press Enter To Exit’, the electro swoon of ‘Ghost’ through to the seven-minute standout closer, 'Something To Remember Me By', The Horrors here have structured an alt-pop banger that cascades elegantly over a synth sustained, psych foundation. Piano-led ‘Point Of No Reply’ builds to a driving climax as Badwan declares, “I’m fighting the fire and you’re fanning the flames,” while the layered, pulsing concoction of ‘Weighed Down’ is a sonic haze governed by a taught vocal overlay.
'V' is an invigorating, progressive return for the Southend lads.
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