And
here we have another reason to embrace 2005. Editors. Amidst the mire of
Curtis mannerisms and Joy Division wannabes, there’s finally a band to rise above
in both style and substance. Comparisons of this nature would typically engineer
a fall, and as much as Tom Smith pries into your mental recesses and engages you
with his overwhelmed charm, Editors have the ability to capture a moment with
an unnerving clarity and an irresistible poignancy. Devoid of the forced
showmanship and jacked up personas, each member of the band is almost each to
their own. Drummer Ed Lay is a blaze of hi hat concentration, bassist Russell
Leech is as intimidating as his bass playing whilst guitarist Chris Urbanowicz
wanders with mediated intent between the front row and singer Smith as he (Smith)
emanates a sense of personal belief that he conveys with effortlessly overwhelming
charm. You could focus on any number of intricacies and make unfair comparisons
between the ill fated Curtis and Joy Division, but Editors remain distinctive
in their own right. For one, Tom Smith isn’t Ian Curtis and Editors at this moment
in time are not a vehicle for one mans suffering. What is clear is that Editors
delight in creating music of cerebral splendour. ‘Bullets’ carries an ominous
menace with its veiled proclamations and the penetrating chorus of ‘You don’t
need this disease’ whereas ‘Blood’ with the mordantly unadorned line; ‘it runs
through you veins/brings hope to your heart’ demonstrates Smith’s acerbic lyrical
ability in conveying hope and optimism, and yet it all somehow remains critically
unsalvageable. Relevant sites:
http://www.kitchenwarerecords.com
Sherief Younis for Crud Magazine 2004©
Janauary - March 2005 - News Archive | |
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