Editors: In This Light And On This Evening review

Brummie gloomsters explore new territory.

In congress with Interpol, Bloc Party and White Lies, Birmingham’s Editors have been channelling a dark seam of 80s dark rock for the past few years. Three albums in they sound less like their most obvious reference point - Joy Division – and closer to goth acts like Bauhaus and Sisters Of Mercy. Tom Smith’s cadaverous baritone remains as deadly serious as ever but the band has retooled their sound with an emphasis on synths. The move makes them sound colder, but also cleaner and oddly in line with La Roux and Frankmusic.

Lyrically ambiguous, cold and just a bit too pompous, but there’s pleasingly driven and addictive about the bulk of the album on stand outs Bricks And Mortar and Papillion while other tracks (Last Exit, Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool) provide a more arduous listen. Despite the more optimistic title Editors are still the perfect soundtrack to a gloomy Wednesday mornings.

More to try:
Gary Numan: The Pleasure Principle
The Chameleons: Script Of The Bridge
Interpol: Antics