Clad in tight jeans and leather, scarves and dark shades, the
Horrors look like they just walked out of Andy Warhol’s Factory and
straight into the 21st century. OK, so maybe they made one detour to
steal a few licks from the Damned circa 1977, but you get the idea.
Primary Colours is a mix of dark and fuzzy garage-rock, Velvet
Underground waves of sound, blaring synths and the kind of pop music
that sounds best when recorded on a four-track in a basement. The
Horrors’ attitude is often over-dramatic, bordering on goth, but it
suits the band’s often brash guitar and raw recording techniques.
“Mirror’s Image” and “Scarlet Fields” stand out by combining the sort
of beat indie kids can dance to with a sleazy, brooding darkness.
Imagine the guys in Interpol loosening their ties a bit and riding a
wave of feedback. The Horrors may have that same art-house chic, but
these songs border on noisy chaos.
— Matt Whelihan
This article appears in May 6-12, 2009.
