CHVRCHES – Love Is Dead (Glassnote Records)
Greg Kurstin (P!nk, Tegan and Sara, Sia) is fast making a name for himself as a hit-making producer, so it’s not surprising the Scottish synth pop trio Chvrches enlisted his help on their third LP, Love Is Dead. The result? A cranked up political pop album or, if you are open to interpretation, a cranked up album on arguments with an ex. Either way, Love is dead and it is glorious.
Chvrches boasts an outspoken and charismatic vocalist in Lauren Mayberry, but lyrically, they could have done a bit more to push their anger over. This is not to say that Love Is Dead is meek, but rather, politically driven tracks such as Graves did not kick it enough lyrically. Miracle could have been the best hit, but only if the band had made it sound more like themselves, rather than anthems other bands out there are generating.
The Depeche Mode inspired track Deliverance does much better with discussions on hypocrisy: “Is it deliverance if you can never change? Is it deliverance if you hurt me in exchange?”. Never Say Die builds up on the synths and Mayberry’s crooning of “never ever never say die” is an instant ear worm. Really Gone is hauntingly beautiful, and it showcases Mayberry’s beautiful voice away from the synth pop. Wonderland ends off the album, on a slightly uplifting note with bass-heavy, uptempo beats though Mayberry was quick to add “We live in a wonderland, like blood isn’t on our hands”.
I thoroughly enjoyed Love Is Dead and it is going to stick around for a few weeks, even if some of the band’s vibrance was lost. That is a small price to pay in the hunt to be more successful, and gathering of vast audiences.
Amelia Lim
- Challengers – Dir: Luca Guadagnino (Film Review) - April 24, 2024
- Civil War – Dir: Alex Garland (Film Review) - April 9, 2024
- Pearl Jam – Dark Matter (Monkeywrench/Republic) Album Review - April 1, 2024