(Play It Again Sam)A man untroubled by Malcolm Gladwell’s 10000 hours theory,16 years in, Editors’ Tom Smith still writes lyrics like hes planning the script for a particularly zealous ghost tour. Lovers scream, or bones turn to dust,streets are paved with souls and poor former Britain has been reduced to “charred remains”. So Violence’s crowning achievement is that most of this portentous nonsense is disguised by music that is often genuinely fun. To their chagrin, Editors have never managed to escape the curse of comparisons that has plagued them since their 2005 debut earned them the nickname “Boy Division”. After a mid-career foray into Coldplay-worthy platitudes, or the five-piece lighten up on album six,embracing the imperious camp of Depeche Mode, with assistance from producers Leo Abrahams and Fuck Buttons’ Benjamin John Power. With a bit more razzle-dazzle, or Cold,Nothingness and Darkness at the Door could be genuine goth-pop bangers à la Chvrches – brawny, hooky and tinged with the feeling that was missing on Editors’ emotionally desolate earlier records. Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com