The Horrors: Skying

The Horrors
Skying
Rating: Grrrr

The Horrors jumped onto the UK music scene in 2007 with a campy, proto-goth/rockabilly hybrid mixed with a strong visual sense of foppy clothing, dark makeup, and intricate hairstyles. After the release of and EP and their debut LP Strange House, they had seemingly reached the crossroads for their sound and image. Would they continue to head down the path of influences like The Cramps, making essentially the same record for their entire career, descending further into novelty territory, or would they set out towards different vistas. No one, least of all me, could have envisioned the tremendous leap in sound for the follow up album Primary Colours. Ditching the goth affectations completely, they showed a stunning mastery of post-punk, krautrock, and shoegaze, blending these and other genres into a call to arms, hereby announcing the reinvention into one of the most exciting bands of the last few years. Again, such an amazing transformation begs the question again as to where to go from here. Skying finds the band honing their sound rather than making a bold leap. That intense slap in the face you got from first listening to Primary Colours is absent here, and first listens can be puzzling, as there is really nothing new here from the band, however, over time, the strong melodies and increased confidence/maturity in their playing wins over.

Produced by the band, Skying plays like a band wanting to expand and add depth to its sound. Keyboards are more prominent and bolder, drums boom and echo, and singer Faris Badwan all but abandons the tics and mannerisms used previously. First single "Still Life" is the perfect example of their new approach. Keyboards sparkle and glisten like outtakes from New Gold Dream era Simple Minds, with Badwan's vocals, understated and rich, blasting to new levels on the triumphant chorus.



This more accessible Horrors is evidenced throughout the record. Lead track "Changing The Rain" is all languid synths, muted beats, and droning guitars. "Wild Eyed" uses crisp drums and delicate string synths to cushion Badwan's luscious croon.



"You Said" brings in horns that balance out the ever deepening sound.

The Horrors - You Said by apartmandairesi

While this new side of The Horrors adds new depth, an entire album of this might prove to be monotonous. Skying really shines when this clarity is muddled with some of their now trademarked experimentation. "Dive In" uses chiming guitars and rollicking backbeat to draw you in gradually, to then erupt at the chorus with blasts of guitar drones.

The Horrors - Dive In by apartmandairesi

Likewise, "Endless Blue" begins with ringing guitars, delicate keyboards, and horns, sounding like a 50s era ballad before the guitars begin snaking up from the mist.



The back end of the album finds the band honing the krautrock/shoegaze sound they employed on Primary Colours. The expansiveness of the tracks allows the band to paint outside the lines. "Moving Further Away" glides and shimmers under a motorik beat, hazy synths, and a chugging bass line. Midway changing to an epic blast of guitar effects.



While closer "Oceans Burning" adds a more psychedelic bent to the proceedings. Dreamy, flanged guitars meander over ghostly chimes for the first half of the track, evolving into a raveup of driving bass, drums, and eerie guitars. The only true misstep on the album is the track "Monica Gems" which finds Badwan affecting his histrionic vocals from Strange House over a cacophony of scraping guitars. It just feels out of place on the album, and perhaps an attempt to pull back in some listeners who bolted when they changed direction with their sound.

Like the band Liars, so far The Horrors confound expectations with each release. Restless and experimental, they enjoy pushing the envelope, taking their sound in new, unexpected directions. While this is not the huge stylistic leap that Primary Colours was, Skying takes chances, especially with Badwan's vocals, pushing them forward in the mix, finding him with a supple, gorgeous voice. Skying is a perfect addition to their evolving catalog.

Rating Guide

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and peaks one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.