The Horrors – Luminous (2014) [Qobuz FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

British garage punk revivalists who transformed into moody rockers with critical acclaim for their merger of goth, post-punk, and shoegaze. Recorded over 15 months in the band’s east London studio-laboratory-bunker with co-producer Craig Silvey (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire, The National), Luminous is the follow-up to the band’s 2007 debut Strange House, the Mercury-nominated Primary Colours (2009), and the critically-acclaimed Skying (2011). Tasking themselves with moving onwards, The Horrors determined to make an album that was brighter, more positive, more electronic.

As good as the Horrors’ third album Skying was, it sometimes felt like the band expanded on the risks they took on Primary Colours in ways that felt reliable instead of daring. On Luminous, they trade their previous album’s daydream-y excursions for something with a little more grit and drive. “I See You,” the lead single from the group’s fourth album, suggested that the Horrors had found a way to inject Skying’s Echo and the Bunnymen and Simple Minds homages with more urgency; the way the song builds toward its massive coda — and keeps lifting from there — makes it a standout as well as a worthy heir to the band’s definitive epic, “Sea Within a Sea.” This urgency extends to the album’s hookier songwriting: “So Now You Know” and “Jealous Sun” prove that the Horrors can balance epic sounds with memorable melodies. Luminous also makes more, and better, use of Rhys Webb’s keyboards, which give added heft to “Mine and Yours”‘ sweeping dream pop and an extra sparkle to “Falling Star.” Despite the heavily layered guitars and synths that dominate the album, the rhythm section drives many of the best moments. “In and Out of Sight” weaves some subtle punk-funk moves into its lush atmosphere, making it a surprisingly danceable standout. Likewise, “First Day of Spring” gives the drums and bass more of a workout than they’ve had since the Primary Colours days. Conversely, the Horrors give Luminous more scope with “Change Your Mind,” a pretty ballad that ranks among the band’s most intimate songs and feels particularly refreshing after so many elaborate tracks. While the changes the band makes to its music post-Primary Colours are more subtle, Luminous proves the Horrors still have a sense of adventure; they sound comfortable, but not too comfortable to try new things.

Tracklist:
01 – Chasing Shadows
02 – First Day of Spring
03 – So Now You Know
04 – In and Out of Sight
05 – Jealous Sun
06 – Falling Star
07 – I See You
08 – Change Your Mind
09 – Mine and Yours
10 – Sleepwalk

Download:

mqs.link_TheHrrrsLuminus2014Qbuz2496.part1.rar
mqs.link_TheHrrrsLuminus2014Qbuz2496.part2.rar

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