4/5
No CHVRCH In The Wild.
Take me to CHVRCH like Hozier, because I need it right now as I write this Sunday morning. Hungover from yet another Saturday night of the same old addiction. You know the type I'm talking about. Drunk. Scrolling through the treadmill of our screens. In a darkness illuminated by such a bright light from the black mirror that in reflection could burn you. Or at least deprive you of that rest you need in that midnite hour. Tell you you're not enough. Not big enough. Small enough. Good enough. Beautiful enough when we all are in the latest hot take of the day. "We make assumptions on people based on their size/We decide who they are/We decide what they're worth" as Billie Eilish says on the inspired talking point of 'Not My Responsibility', as we all search for a way to be 'Happier Than Ever' in a world that won't allow us to be. Especially when we unlock our phones and like leaving the door to our homes ajar, leave ourselves open to attack from anyone with a social media account and no accountability for what it could do to you and me. Now if that's not 'Screen Violence' I don't know what is. In a time were the pure pop euphoria of the higher power CHVRCHES from the Highlands of Scotland (well...the glorious Glasgow) gives us their testament on the TV. A hand reaching out for help between fuzzy venetian on the tube in a red room that's blinding for some amazing artwork for the Holy Trinity's fourth album after the definitive debut 'The Bones Of What You Believe', sophomore opening 'Every Open Eye', and 2018's declaration 'Love Is Dead'. Scintillating synth in all its indietronica inspirations. Taking on the "feelings of loneliness, disillusionment and fear" due to the illumination "on screens, by screens and through screens". Taking us all the way to finding a solution to stop submerging and come up from under the water. Instead of swimming in the sadness of scrolling stroke. Showing and teaching us 'How Not To Drown' with Robert Smith for The Cure.
"I'm writin' a book on how to stay conscious when you drown/And if the words float up to the surface, I'll keep 'em down/This is the first time I know I don't want the crown/You can take it now/You promised the world and brought me it hangin' from a string/Stuck it in my mouth, into my throat, told me to sing", lead Lauren Mayberry sing as Smith of The Cure counters, "I'm writing a chapter on what to do after they dig you up/On what to do after you grew to hate what you used to love/That was the first time I knew they were out for blood/And they would have your guts" for a decadent duet. Him and her, just like on the 'He Said, She Said' lead single that has its hooks in you for all of CHVRCHES classic choruses for your Instagram bio lines. "He said, "You need to be fеd"/"But keep an eye on your waistline" and/"Look good, but don't bе obsessed"/Keep thinkin' over, over", are lines that draw one right through our anxious age were we are gaslighted to believe we don't look to a set standard. Coercing us to confirm with coddled concern. Fake in its filtered nature of a toxic tonic that will always keep us inebriated in their influence. Another 'Violent' take here like the 'Soil' of their London Grammer best of British pop pulse of epic, electro 'phoric contemporary is the screener of 'California'. A slow burner like Los Angeles evenings from the hills of a Hollywood studio. "Waste a month, waste a year/Waste the time you could've been here/Count the debt, count the tears/Count the truths and all of my fears", the words of wisdom tell you in weary experience omen. "Nobody ever warns ya/That you could die in California." But its the opening track that's 'Asking For A Friend', not wanting to say, "that I'm afraid to die/I'm no good at goodbyes/I can't apologise." All over atmospheric, cinematic music like the Nine Inch Nails of movie like production by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for Halsey's same new music Friday top album 'If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power' and the film that goes with it too. All before the steps of the beat kick in.
In all their power. All their glory days, you've got love. "You still matter", Mayberry sings in harmony, no maybe. In the most inspiring charting song of the year. No need to ask somebody...just tell them. This really is the golden era of pop like Halsey, Lorde and Billie, forget this year...but this month alone. Its a hot Summer in all its 'Solar Power' that will leave you 'Happier Than Ever'. Smile as the sun shines down on you and Lauren, Iain Cook and Martin Doherty gives you all these 'Violent Delights' sounding like a Massive Attack in this most violent year like Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac reuniting next month for 'Scenes From A Marriage'. This 'Final Girl' tells us in all her closing couplets. "And it feels like the weight is too much to carry/I should quit, maybe go get married/Only time will tell/And I wonder if I should’ve changed my accent/Tried to make myself more attractive/Only time will tell," Lauren asks herself. Although no one can doubt her talent and place in not only the charts, but our solidarity standing hearts. No question. This dance floor music for 'Good Girls' and boys alike, just beat to beat like a Jezabel, steps in line with that rhythm. "Killing your idol is a chore/and it's such a f#####g bore", this alive one sings in a 'Kill Your Darlings' world were almost all our heroes have become zeroes. Expect ones like this who sing us electronic 'Lullabies' for our middle of the night malaise bringing about days. As unable to sleep we have to get out of our bedrooms as we can't stand the heat. Stuck with the 'Nightmares' of our screens and the terror of trolls no longer hiding under our bed, but residing rent free in our head. "No one broke my heart quite like that man", Mayberry sings on the 90's like metal riffs of 'Better If You Don't'. But when it comes to this album it's better if you do like couples in matrimony too young. At least you have the hope of the youth that's sadly now wasted on the screen-time generation reduced to a Z. This 'Violence' at least causes enough of an alarm to wake you from this trending reverie of all likes and no love. Now how about this sharing statement for your big-screen? Not since Lana Del Rey in 'Brooklyn Baby' black and white, singing on a Lou Reed 'West Coast' wild side walk like a 'Summer Girl' Haim has ultraviolence actually sounded so good. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Playlist Picks: 'He Said, She Said', 'California', 'How Not To Drown (Feat. Robert Smith)'.
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