“In Dream was a lot different from other albums because we didn’t ever really set out to make the record” says guitarist Justin Lockey. “We initially went to Scotland to write some songs and we took some minimal recording equipment with us. That turned into just making the record, so we made it by accident, in a way.”
While In Dream is Editors’ fifth album, it’s only the second album to feature Lockey and keys/guitarist/backing vocalist Elliott Williams, who were recruited after the departure of guitarist Chris Urbanowicz in 2012. Instead of simply replacing Urbanowicz, vocalist Tom Smith, bassist Russell Leetch and drummer Ed Lay decided to expand into a five-piece, welcoming Williams’ multi-instrumentalist ability.
“I think the initial reasoning behind it, and what I was told when I joined was, ‘We don’t want to replace Chris’,” says Lockey. “I said, ‘Good, because I don’t want to play like Chris’. I think they always wanted to have an extra pair of hands on stage as well, in terms of keys and stuff, so we got Elliott too. I think it’s more about evolving the band and the sound instead of trying to emulate and continue in the way that they were previously.“
In Dream sees the band move in a different direction to 2013’s The Weight Of Your Love;one more in line with the electronic influence of their 2005 debut, The Back Room. According to Smith, the record is grounded in the belief that music can be “both pop and experimental.” This notion is evident from the brooding album opener No Harm throughto the seven-and-a-half minute final track, Marching Orders.
Having just released In Dream, Editors will be out on a European tour for the remainder of the year. Being on the road isn’t likely to trouble the band members, given their prolific touring schedule over the past few years. The group have played stacks of major festivals, including a couple of headline slots, one of which was initiation by fire for Lockey and Williams.
“Well, the first proper show I played with Editors was to like 60,000 people,” says Lockey. “Going from just hanging out and making left-field records to standing in front of 60,000 Belgians all going crazy, all wanting to know where the previous guitarist was, I count that as one of the weirdest experiences of my life. There was a sudden moment of realisation when the lights went up and I couldn’t see the edge of the crowd. I remember thinking, ‘Oh shit, this is pretty big. Maybe I should up my game a little, or just not fuck up’. So that was a good hour-and-a-half of me trying my best not to fuck up.”
Those hoping to see the band in Australia will have to wait a little while yet, with nothing confirmed for the near future. If they do head down, Lockey may have to overcome his fear of dangerous Australian wildlife.
“I have a fear of animals that want to kill you, and you as a nation hold the most animals that want to kill you out of anywhere in the world. If you go to the sea you get eaten by sharks, if you go past the beach you’re going to get eaten by a spider or snake. So you can only really stand on the beach to be safe, but I’m sure there’s something on the beach that will kill you as well – probably the extreme heat. Aside from all of the things that want to kill you, I’m totally keen to go.”
BY KELSEY BERRY
