The Horrors
Night Life
★★★★
FICTION
A classic English rock band, ever game for an aesthetic/conceptual reinvention, The Horrors’ two-single dalliance in industrial noise almost sank them mid-COVID. So, a full eight years on from fifth outing V, it’s a trimmed down version of their original line-up featuring Faris Badwan (vocals), Rhys Webb (bass) and Joshua Hayward (guitar) who here revert to flat-out goth-rock – perhaps cannily, with black-wearers back in vogue amid comebacks from Siouxsie Sioux and The Cure.
Where latter Horrors albums presented a naggingly overcooked sound, producer Yves Rothman wisely marshalled Night Life in six weeks in LA, with new keyboard player Amelia Kidd chipping in remotely from Glasgow. Within ominously booming coordinates often evoking Hans Zimmer-style soundtracking, dark-pop miracles reliably happen, including Trial By Fire’s Bauhaus-y post-apocalyptic histrionics and Lotus Eater’s borderline Euro-house melancholia – further Horrors classics for that ‘Best Of’ yet to come.
Night Life is out 21 March on Fiction.
Order: Amazon | Rough Trade | HMV
Tracklisting:
Ariel
Silent Sister
The Silence That Remains
Trial By Fire
The Feeling Is Gone
Lotus Eater
More Than Life
When The Rhythm Breaks
L.A. Runaway
Get the definitive verdict on all the month's essential new albums, reissues, music books and films only in the latest issue of MOJO, on sale now. More info and to order a copy HERE!
