BBC Review
It may be their best album, even if singles are conspicuous by their absence.
Mike Diver 2009-10-05
Editors have experienced success in terms of sales and audience numbers, but their gloom-laced indie-rock has often been heard as a retread of what’s come before – a watered-down Joy Division for the masses, despite it packing a greater melodic punch than their melancholic forebears. For their third album, the Birmingham four-piece have addressed this criticism head on, unashamedly crafting their ‘most Joy Division’ record yet.
And that’s no bad thing: by embracing what they’re evidently good at – subtly reworking records from personal collections – Editors have struck gold on In This Light…, albeit between mining little of note on a couple of lacklustre tracks. Said skippable selections aside – the alarmingly over-dramatic single Papillon, the shonky lyricism of Like Treasure – this nine-track affair finds its makers exhibiting a self-confidence previously masked by tried-and-tested pop hooks. Their risks here, however slight, do pay dividends.
The opening title track is a phenomenal way to begin proceedings. An electronic pulse – think the start of Franz Ferdinand’s Take Me Out given a Kraftwerk once-over – parts to allow frontman Tom Smith to state, plaintively: “In this light, and on this evening / London’s become the most beautiful thing I’ve seen”. It’s a track to oppose A Weekend in the City, Bloc Party’s 2007 album of capital city tension and paranoia, and a stirring, teasing number that layers noise upon noise until its climax, a reprise of that pulse, sounds remarkable for its delicateness.
Bricks and Mortar is poor lyrically – alas it’s an area Editors haven’t improved in – but its Depeche Mode-does-The Terminator synths and bassline mirroring of The Horrors’ sublime Sea Within a Sea combine neatly to create a euphoric whole sure to light up future live shows. The confrontational tone of Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool just about makes up for its awful title (only Six By Seven could ever pull off the 'eat something equals something' equation), and closer Walk the Fleet Road is a down-tempo arrangement that could, in years to come, be celebrated as Editors’ own Atmosphere. It’s an elegantly solemn ending to an album that wears its influences broadly, but never abuses them.
And, as such, it might be the best album Editors have yet produced, even if obvious singles are conspicuous by their absence.
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I honestly really doubt that anyone who compares this Editors record with Joy Division has ever listened to Ian Curtis' band. Take out the barritone vocals and there is nothing similar between the two; Joy Division were essentially minimalist, with those high bass-lines guiding moody, angry, despairing songs. They sound sparse rather than full, and they certainly aren't dancefloor fare. Even in Closer, the use of synths is limited; they are used to richen the songs rather than lead them.
This Editors record on the other hand is synth-led, aesthetically atmospheric but far from despairing. Depeche Mode, Sisters of Mercy, Bauhaus maybe....these are the sorts of bands you can compare Editors to. But Joy Division? Really? So which Joy Division track on either Unknown Pleasures or Closer sounds anything like this record?
I can't help thinking the Joy Division-Editors comparison is ultimately a lazy refrain from a Music critic who simply hasn't heard enough post-punk to comment with much insight. But it's a great genre that has a lot more to it than Joy Division, as great a band as they were.
Listen to the Chameleon's forgotten classic 'Script To The Bridge', The Sound's 'From The Lion's Mouth' or Crocodiles and 'Heaven Up Here' by 'Echo And The Bunnymen'.
As for Editors, I think they are a worthy addition to the canon of post-punk. It might not have the emotional weight of some of the records I've just mentioned, but much like early Depeche Mode and Sisters of Mercy, they'll make the otherwise gloomy and angst-ridden fans get up and dance. They're good fun, great live, they've produced some good stadium anthems in the past and its good to see them take a new direction.
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For those of you who might not have enough life days to read all of the above review & comment by Giant Green Rabbit, I shall keep it short - Great Album, Buy It and Enjoy Editors for just being Editors!!!!!
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A very harsh review. If you love Editors, then you will love this. If you dont like Editors then you may like this new sound that they give.
Credit to them for trying something different. It works. Its a superb Album. "Bricks and Mortar" is the stand out track (behind "Papillon") although it probably wouldn't be a commercial success as a single. "Like Treasure" is a serious grower.
Why do critics have to be critical? If you get the album you wont be dissappointed! It is not as good as the "An end has a start" album but no album ever will??
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