White Lies - Ritual

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 29 / 1 / 2011

---

Review

White Lies, formely Fear of Flying, return with their second album which follows on from the great work that they started with 'To Lose My Life' back in 2009. 'Ritual' is, however, a very different type of record, still very dark, but owes this time more to New Order than Joy Division. I wasn't sure about this set of songs when I first heard it on both playback at HMV in Oxford Street in London and when I attended a live launch gig there, but upon hearing it at home for the first time, it all made perfect sense. 'Is Love?' kicks it all off in a slow manner. Singer Harry McVeigh's vocals still sounds like Julian Cope's on a great day and, as it moves along, it develops an element of almost early 90's indie dance. 'Strangers' is big in sound, commanding and very 80s in feel, while 'Bigger Than Us' is a slow burner which is keyboard-based. 'Peace and Quiet' starts off again slowly until McVeigh's crystal Cope-like vocals rein in again. It has again 80's production values and is definitely one for Cure fans to fall in love with. 'Streetlights' is slow, doomy, and massive in its drive, while 'Holy Ghost' is heavy on the keyboards and is as strong as anything by New Order. 'Turn the Bells' is dark and gloomy, another Cure-style number, while 'The Power and the Glory' and 'Bad Love' are both slow, dark numbers that totally suck the listener in. The latter track in particular would make a great closer, but the final track is 'Come Down', which recalls Depeche Mode with its brooding, industrial sound. This album is easily an instant grower that will worm your way into your heart and stay there for a long time

Track Listing:-

1 Is Love
2 Strangers
3 Bigger Than Us
4 Peace & Quiet
5 Streetlights
6 Holy Ghost
7 Turn The Bells
8 The Power & The Glory
9 Bad Love
10 Come Down

Band Links:-

https://www.whitelies.com/
https://www.facebook.com/WhiteLies/
https://twitter.com/whiteliesmusic