In approaching Arc, enigmatic art-rockers Everything Everything had little left to prove. Their dazzling debut album reeked of brazen creativity, critics praising its schizophrenia. It was exciting – if a little obtuse at times – and, ultimately, it made you wonder just where the band would take things for album two.
Arc is generally less scattered and jagged than its predecessor, consolidating the stylistic affectations of Man Alive with a more mature trajectory. There is less pretentious posturing, the band placing more emphasis upon their pop sensibilities. Essentially, Everything Everything redress their penchant for chaos, remaining subversive yet sensible. The album unfolds with a cohesive thread too – a natural side-effect of the band’s newfound focus.
Arc has merits as a superficial splendour: it’s simply gorgeous. On occasion, it’s a sugary delight. However, the record bears the distinction of being utterly absorbing, too. From the manic paranoia of Cough Cough to the tender inner-turmoil of Duet, Arc is voraciously vibrant and articulate. Jonathan Higgs continues to stake his claim as a compelling lyricist, his falsetto ascending dizzying heights to detail his inner-most angst. Higgs urges you to scratch beneath the surface of a perfectly attractive album to discover an intricate core.
True to form, Everything Everything have produced a record of melodic and meticulously crafted art-rock/electro-pop. Expect few albums to emerge as imaginative and infectious as Arc in 2013.
BY NICK MASON
Best Track: Cough Cough
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: Life Is Elsewhere LITTLE COMETS, Django Django DJANGO DJANGO
In A Word: Exciting
