Essa nova banda nem lançou seu primeiro disco e já está dando o que falar: Editors
The timeless ‘Bullets’, by Birmingham’s Editors, sounds like it was recorded in the past (probably about 1979) yet also sounds thoroughly 21st century.
Editors join the love-as-a-disease metaphor to a big important sounding production with lots of heart rending chiming guitars. ‘Bullets’ sounds like it can only be played by earnest looking men in big raincoats a la Echo & The Bunnymen at their finest yet retains a classic pop suss.
Mention must also be made of ‘You Are Fading’, a flag waving, mini epic that lyrically says absolutely nothing at all yet musically sounds fucking fantastic. Plus, and I do hope one of the ‘Match Of The Day’ producers are reading this, ‘You Are Fading’ would sound great set to football.
Also, it’s telling that Editors have chosen a relaunched Kitchenware as their home. This Newcastle based label was for a time during the 80s seen as a benchmark of quality being home to at one time or another Fatima Mansions, Martin Stephenson And The Daintees, and, er, Prefab Sprout. There’s no reason why Editors can’t put Kitchenware, and indeed themselves, firmly back on the musical map.(Drowned in Sound)
Okay, let's get it out of the way first. Editors singer Tom Smith has a baritone voice and will thus be compared to Paul Banks or, if he's very lucky, Ian Curtis. Their music is gloomy, romantic and urgent, making comparisons with either singer's respective band inevitable.
But it doesn't matter who you sound like as long as you're good, and here is their second great single. Following on from the success of 'Bullets', a spine-chilling guitar riff introduces 'Munich' to the world. Smith's lyrics are just as foreboding. "I'm so glad I found this" he claims, but you get the feeling he might be lying.
"It breaks when you force it / it breaks if you don't try" he ponders a little later, seemingly recommending a compromise between the two extremes. There's nothing middle of the road about this song, though; to my ears it's one of the best 2005 has offered thus far. Editors: Bullets
Birmingham’s Editors have been compared to Echo & The Bunnymen or - sigh, how obvious? - Joy Division. Don’t be fooled. Sure, Editors have their earnest side but these are not gloomy men moping about in long coats. No sir.
Just check out the awesome ‘You Are Fading’, the B-side to brilliant recent single ‘Bullets’. This song - a B-side let's not forget - says it all about Editors, namely that they’re a supremely confident band capable of writing songs stuffed full of ambition, hope, and romance. That said songs sound fantastic too seems merely an afterthought.
Not only that but anyone who supports Nottingham Forest – that would be guitarist Chris Urbanowicz then – must have a sense of humour!
DiS caught up with the Forest-flag waving guitarist via the interweb to have a chat about those Joy Division comparisons, why Editors chose to work with Elbow’s Guy Garvey - and indeed UNKLE producer Jim Abbiss, - what we can expect from forthcoming single ‘Munich’, and how crisps and fizzy orange are the perfect tonic for good health.
How did Editors get together?
We were all on the same course at University. Ed and myself lived together in halls and the other two joined us for the the last two years. That makes about four years living together.
How would you describe your new single 'Munich'? What's it all about? Have you ever been to Munich?
Lyrically, ‘Munich’ suggests a fragility in people. We generally like to theme a song and let the listener take it where they feel it should go.
As a song, it's easier to stomach than Bullets which was very angular and a bit difficult. It was one of the first songs we did that had a proper groove and it really helped mould our sound. We recorded it at Christmas time and are really happy with the version we're putting out even though its slightly structurally different to its live moniker.
I've never been to Munich. Obviously, we wanted to do the video there so we could get a free holiday but surprisingly we weren't allowed. Bastards.