The Horrors – Changing The Rain

Of all the qualities that made The Horrors’ Skying by far and away one of the best albums of 2011 was just how well it recaptured the sounds of early 80s post-punk. It was like a magical ship-in-a-bottle preserve of past sounds and aesthetics, re-made for a 21^st century audience – and boy did it sound incredible.

New single Changing The Rain captures every aspect of that – from the gloom-soaked, swirling synths and dirge-like guitar of the verses to the sun-burst positivity of the chorus, the song sweeps across an ocean of a soundscape with mind-blowing aptitude. Like The Cure, Joy Division and every other post-punk great compiled into one heady melange of intensity, Changing The Rain is a stunning summary of Skying’s brilliance.

Changing The Rain is released on the 12^th March.

The Horrors cover David Bowie classic 'Suffragette City'

In a week when we've already had Films of Colour covering a Bowie track, here's another! This time, it's those favourite gloom-pop purveyors The Horrors tackling the classic Suffragette City.

Normally I'd be wary of any act going for such an iconic track, but if any contemporary act has the gravitas and 'sound' to record a Bowie number, it's The Horrors.

For starters, the band play their cover wisely, sticking close to the original mold - their take is suitably punky, laced with that brilliant little synth-organ hook that serves as one of my top moments in the original.

It's not quite as 'out there' as the band's recent cover of Beyonce, but then, you wouldn't want it to be.

The Horrors debut I Can See Through You video

Switching things up a gear from the sombre, stately Still Life, The Horrors have premiered the video for their post-punk inspired stormer I Can See Through You.

With all manner of psychedelic colour and spacey effects, the White Rabbit directed video makes for a suitability surreal accompaniment to one of the best tracks from the band's Skying album.

The group also took to the esteemed Later With Jools Holland to play the track live - watch the performance here.

The Horrors - I Can See Through You

When it comes to the 80s stylings that so gloriously define The Horrors' new album Skying, I Can See Through You ranks relatively low down. Compared to the dreamy, flanged guitar of Dive In or the majestic synth-epic Moving Further Away, it feels a far leaner, more bared-to-the-bone creation.

Certainly in terms of richness, it's not as involving as the magical, enchanting sea of intricacy the rest of the album stands as - but as a storming tour de force and exercise in a track that you just know would be incredible to see live, it more than gets the job done.

What I Can See Through You really represents is The Horrors making a stab at a proper 'pop' moment and for a band so often depicted as nothing more than gloomy indie types, it's amazingly good.

Fat, juicy bass pulses away behind the defiant cries of the chorus, high-pitched whines of organ underpinning that grimy crunch of guitar that ties Skying together as an album.

Previous single Still Life was a real masterpiece - the perfect introduction to exactly what this new incarnation of The Horrors was all about. I Can See Through You feels then like its brawling, rumbustious younger cousin, spoiling for a fight; fists up and ready.

Where Still Life shone in its rapturous, considered slow-beauty, here The Horrors hit the ground running, sweeping away all before them. Top stuff.

I Can See Through You is available to download from iTunes now.

New releases round-up - 11th July 2011

The Wanted - Glad You Came

Putting aside all the glorious opportunities for innuendo and euphemism the title of the boy band's latest single presents, it's actually a cracking summer tune. Gloriously dancey and basking in full-on Ibiza vibes, the track carries the group's laddy attitude perfectly; a strong move forward as the band gear up to release their second album.

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Nicola Roberts - Beat Of My Drum

With all the hoo-ha about the pro's and con's of On Air/On Sale, it's important to remember that at the heart of the matter, there still lies a song. And in this case, a very good one indeed. This week sees the physical release of Nicola's debut solo single, backed with the wonderfully titled b-side Disco Blisters And A Comedown (sounds like something the Pet Shop Boys or The Smiths would dream up, doesn't it?).

Quirky, brilliant electro, the kind of stuff that us long-time Girls Aloud fans always dreamed Nicola would come up with, it's yet more proof of how she really is the most amazing popstar around at the moment.

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The Horrors - Skying

The past decade has been awash with bands trying to recreate the sounds of the 80s - but perhaps none quite so faithfully as The Horrors do on this, their third studio release. Already racking up stellar reviews across the board, many are touting Skying as a real contender for album of the year.

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