White Lies are a gloomy band. Or rather – they used to be.
White Lies are a gloomy band. Or rather – they used to be. New album ‘
Friends’ sees them depart from their Joy Division like gloom and add shimmering synths. However, this doesn’t work as well as they might have hoped. Single ‘
Take It Out On Me’ lacks a punch and could do with a beefed up chorus to deliver the blow akin to their early single ‘
To Lose My Life’.
The better songs on the record come when the band fully embrace their 80s influences, with ‘
Hold Back Your Love’ peppered with rolling synths whilst ‘
Swing’ feels like early OMD with the hook of “you ring I’m running home” literally running round your head. ‘
Is My Love Enough?’ proves another highlight with its electronic element at the forefront whilst ‘Summer Didn’t Change A Thing’ is the closest the album comes to the band’s first album but ultimately falls flat.
