The Horrors are back with their first studio album in three years, Luminous. This new venture adopts a very ambient form of neo-psychedelia. Almost all but abandoning their shoegaze roots, the band find a new sound anchored in disco, 80s style pop rock and space pop. With an interesting array of songs, Luminous is a very enjoyable album that packs all the warmth of this late Spring.
A friend recently pointed out that many indie rock bands have adopted an amount of inspiration from U2’s 1980s catalogue. Whether a conscious effort of not, this does seem to be a sound rippling across the indie music scene of late, especially in its more popularised corners. Luminous is no exception to this, there is a strong U2 presence in the atmosphere and melodies displayed by The Horrors here, and you would easily be forgiven if you mistook vocalist Faris Badwan for Bono at times.
Elsewhere, there are elements of Rush’s Moving Pictures, with the synths creating the same futuristic space sound. The disco edge present on “I See You” clearly reflects the impact of Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories. There seems to be less of a reluctance to adopt that sound. Blending in with The Horror’s rock ethos, this creates parts that would not be out of place on a Roxy Music record.
Oddly, Luminous tends to feel very 80s in style and approach, but there is something extremely contemporary about the album’s overall sound. The crystal clear production the band have achieved through their popularity really works here, it actually helps the overall atmosphere and aesthetic instead of impeding it. Showing a great sense of maturity, Luminous is a great and welcome addition to the realms of popular rock.
