The Horrors – Luminous
Review by Madison Convey
It’s been three years since English indie rockers The Horrors released their last album Skying, and so its needless to say that their most recent release was highly anticipated by both fans and press alike. Released earlier this month, Luminous follows after its predecessors as another record plugging the band’s mysterious, gothic sound while still managing to be entirely unique in its own right.
“Chasing Shadows” is the first track to be heard, and after a drawn out introduction it kicks in to the lazy vocals and soft guitar that The Horrors’ fans are oh-so-familiar with. “First Day Of Spring” follows, and has a similar melodic theme but picks up the pace a little more to the point where after a few listens it may just spark a singalong, but “In And Out Of Sight” takes a step in an entirely different direction with a synth-heavy introduction and chorus that makes it the perfect ‘festival set’ track.
The Horrors might not be set out to get you energised with heavy, in your face material; their songs are more the kind that you kick back and relax to, but it really is something that works in their favor. Unfortunately it does leave some of the record without individuality as it could be considered to sound consistently all the same, but that might just be the kind of thing that the listener is looking for. While it may bore some people, for others it’s a chance to listen to something that doesn’t require much thought.
Fortunately, Luminous does pick up in points like with “Falling Star” which is more of a dance track than one that you can lie in the sun listening to. With an interesting guitar riff and compelling lyrics, it’s definitely one of the more solid tracks on the record. The final few offerings “Mine And Yours” and “Sleepwalk” do a good job at wrapping up a decent album, but don’t succeed much further than that. “Mine And Yours” has a kind of David Bowie feel to it but without the dazzling performance, while “Sleepwalk”, The Horrors’ final chance to say their piece, falls somewhat flat of doing anything more than just being a mediocre song.
While it’s true that The Horrors could have done a lot more in making this album really shine, it is certainly solid enough to pass and be enjoyed by the band’s existing fan base. British indie rock is a subgenre that is far from dying out and The Horrors have always been one of the frontrunners – but if they intend to keep that spot, they might need to up the ante a bit more.
Overal rating: 3/5
Recommended tracks: “In And Out Of Sight” and “Falling Star”
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