Editors – In this Light and on this Evening

Lights Out

There are few artists alive who can make records that consistently rocket to the number one position. With their two previous albums selling over two million copies since forming on 2002, Editors make a bold move with the direction of their new record. Their new industrial style brings the heavy use of synthesizers to their classic anthem sound. Still, Editors apply the same mechanics to their new album, In this Light and On this Evening.

A pulsing keyboard ominously begins the album with the title track and the deep voice of Tom Smith: “I swear to god I heard the Earth inhale moments before it spat its rain down on me.” This continues until heavy bass rhythm drums pick up the song along a distorted guitar melody until it fades into the next track, “Bricks and Mortar,” which repeats the formula. Single “Papillon”, driven by its catchy, dark keyboard play, is the fastest song on the album. Wrapping things up (if you didn’t get the five additional tracks from iTunes) is the minimalist “Walk on the Fleet Road,” whose down tempo choir anthem is reminiscent of Editors’ earlier work.

While taking their music in a new direction, the final sound is nothing new. The lack of innovation here is a bit discouraging and nothing we haven’t seen done before. Straddling the line of dark wave music with the use of their cookie cutter formula makes the entire album sounds like Depeche Mode. Apparently the UK seems to disagree, as In this Light and On this Evening hit the number one spot on the charts in mere weeks, but the jury is still out as to whether Editors will ever find a convivial home in the States.