(Sorry, folks. No downloads. But stream away!)

Timi Conley

Yeasayer

Beach House

Galactic

Daphne Willis

Editors

Happy 2010!

In This Light and On This Evening

“You are what you eat/You’ll become digested,” sings vocalist Tom Smith on “Like Treasure,” one of nine tracks on Editors new album, In This Light and On This Evening. It’s a perfect line detailing the greatest issue concerning the platinum-selling UK outfit — that, until Light, Editors only subsisted on Joy Division and Interpol, thus giving listeners a mere regurgitation of the same. Consider the problem solved.

In This Light unlocks more sonic doors than its predecessors, allowing Smith’s vocals room to breathe (and consequently, to overcome the standard Ian Curtis comparisons). Until now, the lack of maturation kept Editors locked in the same musical box as She Wants Revenge and other new wave competitors. While those remnants are still present, however, the band appears ready to move forward in the best interest of all parties involved.

“Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool” rides a tribal percussive sound to provide the most enchanted song on Light. “The Boxer” piques interest from the outset with slight xylophone sounds, analog synth work and builds toward a positive yet haunting conclusion. “Papillon” relies most heavily on the keys and feels fresh and crisp amidst its surroundings.

Flood’s production work (Sigur Rós, U2, The Killers) might have much to do with the obvious changes, but you can’t help but believe that factors like experience and maturity go a long way toward this artistic development. Either way, In This Light and On This Evening runs a fine course toward a much higher potential than originally believed.

— Matt Conner

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