An End Has a Start

iTunes Review

There’s no denying that this Northern UK quartet capture the icy tones and despondent vibe that made Joy Division such an entrancing entity back at the turn of the ‘80s. In his darkest moments, singer Tom Smith emulates Ian Curtis’ detached existentialism (with a touch of Welshman John Cale) while the group purrs along with a mix of the Division’s glass-hard guitar shards from Unknown Pleasures and the plusher keyboard-infused textures of Closer. “Please love don’t be scared,” Smith sings during “Spiders” recalling the Teardrop Explodes’ Julian Cope doing his finest Jim Morrison homage. All these ripe influences, however, don’t demote the group’s own individual chemistry. While the echoes of rock’s long history can be heard throughout the Editors’ second studio album, there are plenty of strong melodies to make this album more than mere hero worship. The album’s first single and opener, “Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors” comes trouncing forward with a sense of dancefloor urgency.  “Well Worn Hand” closes the album with a stately piano ballad. In between, the group sways from bursts of sunlight to foggy, trudging rhythms. They’re drawn to dark moods but in the end have trouble trying to hide their youthful optimism.