Chvrches combine three of my favourite things – synthesizers, Scotland and living it up Roman-style with a rampant use of the letter V. The young Glasgow outfit have backed up the release of their Recover EP (led by the excellent eponymous single) in early 2013 with this, their debut album.
In my view, heavy airplay on triple j and elsewhere has been well-deserved. The emotion in the songs are far rawer than you’d expect from the bulk of the sugar-coated ’80s synth-pop which is echoed with style throughout The Bones of What You Believe, and the album has a lot to recommend, from robust song structures to the precision and passion of Lauren Mayberry’s voice, which soars over huge riffs from the band’s flock of synthesizers (there really should be a collective noun for synthesizers). There are similarities to bands both old and new, but Chrvches make the sound their own.
There’s a good chance you’ve already heard one or two of the album’s singles The Mother We Share, Gun, and Recover, but if you haven’t, they’re well worth a listen because they’re very, very good. That said, Chvrches may not be for everyone. However, if you’ve been a fan of the better bits of ’80s pop, this album mightn’t leave your stereo for some time.
BY JOSH FERGEUS
Best Track: Recover
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: LORDE, ERASURE
In A Word: Synth-tacular
