The Horrors To Release Fifth Album
The Horrors return with their stunningly assertive fifth album V on September 22 via Wolf Tone / Caroline Australia. The band have also revealed a visually stunning, computer generated abstract video for their critically acclaimed new single Machine.
The album has been previewed by the first single Machine which sees the group at their majestic, imperial best, although the ten tracks on the album are so diverse that when the final song and future single Something To Remember Me By appears to channel dance, trance and ‘80s pop genres it feels like both the most natural thing in the musical world and also the most surprising. V shows the group at the peak of their powers, exhibiting a freedom and sense of exploration that feels truly liberating.
“It is a risk,” says Faris Badwan discussing the band’s bold refusal to stand still. “But life isn’t much fun without risk. It’s the antithesis of being creative if you know what you’re going to be doing every time.”
Keyboardist Tom Furse continues: “It’s natural, if you do see yourself as an artist, to progress and not play it safe. Bowie pre-empted the modern condition of not being able to stay in one place for very long, and I get frustrated with bands who stay still. Because then it does become a career.”
The band have also shared the surreal music video for first single Machine. Featuring layers of simulations of micro-organisms, the video is the works of CGI pioneer Jon Emmony who is known for his beautiful, grotesque and intriguing simulation videos.
On making the video, Jon said “The video for ‘Machine’ is based around the concept of computer simulation. The creatures, formed from sections cut and twisted from insects, crustaceans and bone are arranged in sculptural compositions inspired by artists such as Hieronymus Bosch; finding the surreal within mixed forms and scales. If left, taken away from an edit, the creatures would continue to exist and their movements would evolve. For me this was an exciting way to create digital imagery as having an element of control removed and then decided by a computer.”
V was recorded in London with producer Paul Epworth, who has worked with FKA Twigs, Lorde, Rihanna, Adele, London Grammar, Florence and the Machine, Lana Del Rey and Paul McCartney, amongst many others. The album artwork comes from talented VFX artist and director Erik Ferguson, who is known for his abstract and intriguing creative vision.
The Horrors have recently supported Depeche Mode on tour. This month, the group played Latitude Festival and a small show at London’s Omeara.
“When we started,” explains bassist Rhys Webb, “we had a very clear idea of what we wanted to do, which was to make as furious a noise as possible, a fast and violent racket. But even though we started with this punky garage sound there was always this real spirit of wanting to experiment and explore.”
V is the sound of a band making undoubtedly the most expansive and progressive music of their careers.
Formed in 2005, The Horrors are Faris Badwan (lead vocals), Tom Furse (keyboards, synthesizer), Joshua Third (guitar), Joe Spurgeon (drums), Rhys Webb (bass).
V
ALBUM OUT SEPTEMBER 22 VIA WOLF TONE / CAROLINE AUSTRALIA
PRE ORDER NOW
V TRACK LISTING
1. Hologram
2. Press Enter To Exit
3. Machine
4. Ghost
5. Two Way Mirror
6. Weighed Down
7. World Below
8. Gathering
9. It’s A Good Life
10. Something To Remember Me By