The Horrors discussed their superb forthcoming album V at a playback in north London’s Church Studios. The building belongs to producer Paul Epworth, who’s work with Adele and Rihanna among others, and who was also present for the informal Q+A.
“We thought it would be great to work with Paul because we knew he was going to push us out of our comfort zones as well as appreciate and enjoy what we were trying to do,” said Rhys Webb of what might appear an unconventional pairing.
“As much as we enjoyed what we were doing and what the band did and what we meant, it got to the point where – for a group of five people who had been working together over 10 years – it wasn’t as much fun as it had been. So we needed something that was going to revitalise the group energy and spirit.”
After their July show at London’s Omeara, some suggested that this might be The Horrors’ most poppy album yet, and in the best possible way.
Frontman Faris Badwan said: “It is the most accessible record we’ve done, but kind of by accident because it’s rock. I think as a band we were interacting and we were playing together and writing and that was working. It ends up being accessible because it works.”
“Writing pop songs has been something we’ve always done, it might just be that after 12 years we’re better at doing it," Tom added.
While "it could easily cross over into normality", as the band put it, The Horrors always pull it back, keeping with their signature heavy eccentricity. Epworth remarked that on the album’s fifth track, ‘Two Way Mirror’, "There’s a point at which you think it’s going to turn into Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’ and suddenly it goes into some weird wormhole and you’re not quite sure what’s happened.”
The album – 10 tracks picked from around 70 – demonstrates the tastes of what Epworth calls "the critical panel that is The Horrors". Working with them was a challenge and The Horrors pushed Epworth as much as he pushed them, Epworth said.
He referred to The Horrors’ own extensive production experience, saying, “They know every trick in the book, and they see through the bullshit… [they’re] a band who collectively know what their strengths are. They don’t want to tread ground they’ve already covered, and I had to wrap my head around that.” The result is, according to their producer, the band’s "most cohesive" record to date.
V is set for release via on Wolftone/Caroline International on September 22.
