(Single from album, "The Bones Of What You Believe")
Chvrches are a brand new band, taking the very traditional synth-pop squelch and stepping it up for the audience of 2013, which, for an early '80s electronic music fan such as myself, is understandably, very exiting. On top of this, for the first time, I feel as though I really have my own band to follow that are contemporary and on the live circuit, also giving me a chance to see them at work. Last year, the band, then unknown, released a free digital download of "Lies" and also "The Mother We Share" as a translucent red 10" single, both of which are original songs. This year, for Record Store Day, came the spine-tingling "Recover", released on translucent orange 12" vinyl alongside "ZVVL" and "Now Is Not The Time". Alongside "We Sink" and "Science And Vision" premiered in session for BBC Radio 1, the current Chvrches output at the moment (unless you've seen them live) stands at a meagre 8 songs - as it goes, the music listening public knows very little, though already, the future's looking exceptionally bright because 7 of those 8 songs are amazing.
"Gun" is the 8th of these tracks, and served as my baptism into the Chvrches sound (see what I did there? I know - beautiful). Discovered via the NME's "Tracks You Have To Hear This Week" blog on their website, I was instantly hooked on the band's fat, wet, synthy fuzz and scoured the internet for a back catalogue that doesn't exist. The materialising prospect then, of being at the forefront of what appeared to be a small band with an equally small following, had me ecstatic.
More rousing, however, was the sound. "Gun" starts with a bass keyboard riff that is quickly accompanied by the light twinkling of a dotty synth on top. Then, just as your senses recover from the highly charged intro, drums explode on to the scene, backed by what sounds to be a bass guitar, wandering up through the higher reached notes of the instrument (though I could be wrong). In many ways, it sounds similar to Erasure and the Pet Shop Boys but shinier and produced to a much higher standard; flawlessly clean and gorgeously deep it's a sonic that I can honestly say I have never ever experienced but that I fine electrifyingly summarising of my tastes and brilliantly danceable. The finest instrument on the entire song comes in the form of Lauren Mayberry's shrill vocal, light and childish, but aggressive, bold and steadfast at the same time. This shines most at the penultimate chorus, which is stripped back electronically and feels more raw, the climax of the song.
The band have stated that Depeche Mode are a major influence on them and have actually just finished supporting them on the European leg of their "Delta Machine" tour. From the first listen, I could really hear DM in Chvrches' sound, though it's a combination of the brighter, female tone and the sparklier keyboards that give "Gun" a more-positive timbre than the more sonically reflective and moodily deep music of Mode, such as "Violator" or even "Speak & Spell".
Also different to Martin Gore's compositions, are the lyrics, which, are not my favourite (i.e. the sarky, poignant poems that populate Smiths and Suede songs) but which are neither fantastic or appalling. Instead, they strike the perfect balance, remaining memorable but without sacrificing the dramatic delivery with meaninglessness, as is so often the issue with Depeche Mode tracks ("Monument", "The Meaning Of Love" etc.) Regarding the assured threat of emotional pain given further torment from the aggressor after a breakup, "Gun" hardly fills the charts with cheesy lines of vengeance, but at the same time, digs no deeper than the surface of the topic, focusing instead on the sound, which is actually very pardonable since the latter is so exceptional.
The package here is also rather luscious. Chvrches have again marketed MP3, CD and vinyl formats, though, as ever with the last of these, the translucent neon pink 12" disc, contained in a textured card sleeve is far superior. Some may disagree, but seeing a song of this manic calibre clamber from within the grooves of an electric, fuchsia plastic disc is incredibly satisfying - my copy from Amazon was a mere £5.62 (inc. VAT), which is pretty good compared with other 12"'s around at the moment.
My only criticism then - steer clear of the remixes. This particular aspect doesn't discount the way I regard the original song in any way, but it's worth noting that all alternate versions fail to live up to the rigorous gravity of the album version.
Other than that, get hyped - Chvrches' album is out in September and you'll want to grab a copy fast; if they can keep this up who knows, maybe someone will finally have '[outdone] the beloved Smiths...'
Don't tell anyone I said that of course...
★★★★★
Versions of "Gun"
Album/Single Version - 3:53
Jamie Isaac Remix - 4:04
Auntie Flo Remix - 5:53
Groundislava Remix - 5:43
DJ Helix Remix - 4:08
KDA Remix - 4:12