Editors: Papillon

TRACK REVIEW: Editors – Papillon

Words: Gareth O’Malley

That up there is a new press shot. Editors are back. In black, naturally. Irish radio station Phantom 105.2 stole a march on, well, every other radio station in Europe, and played ‘Papillon’, the first single off the Birmingham band’s third effort, ‘In This Light And On This Evening’ – a week ahead of schedule. Thus leaving PIAS Recordings (the band’s label) with egg on their faces. Embarrassing incidents aside, it’s here now, and from the sound of things, there has been a shift in focus: from lead guitarist Chris Urbanowicz’s riffs to synths. Yes. Synths.

I am just waiting to hear this from the critics: ‘Oh, look, they ripped off Joy Division for the first two albums, and now they’re ripping off New Order’. The accusations of ripping off Joy Division have worn thin since the release of 2005’s ‘The Back Room’, and the band have definitely moved on. The synths are quite prominent here, in a riff that lodges itself firmly in your brain and refuses to leave. Frontman Tom Smith’s lyrics are as menacing as ever: ‘If there really was a god here, he’d have raised a hand by now / ‘Darling, you’re born, get old, and die here.’ / Well, that’s good enough for me‘.

Far more anthemic than their earlier material, ‘Papillon’ finds Editors embracing electronic instruments, a move that has definitely paid off. One of four new tracks that were premiered over the summer, along with ‘Bricks And Mortar’, ‘Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool’ and ‘The Big Exit’, it hints at the band’s third record being a very interesting listen indeed.

Editors – Papillon (Radio Rip) [alt]

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