White Lies - Death [Single]

Polydor

If you wanna write a great song, then bring in the bass long before you bring in the guitars. It worked for Pixies, who wrote most of the best songs ever written, and then Nirvana had a go and wrote most of the best since. If you have no idea what I am talking about, London trio White Lies certainly do. One of White Lies’ obvious influences, Joy Division, did the same thing on more than one occasion, and they too were one of the greatest bands ever.

Now White Lies are a long way off such praise yet, but this is a great track, building menacingly from bass and synth to a thrilling climax of power chords and soaring Robert Smith meets Ian McCulloch vocals. It’s 80’s sombre-pop, the soundtrack to a John Hughes directed Donnie Darko sequel, giving a nod to Teardrop Explodes, Tears for Fears, Echo & The Bunnymen and even a little Bowie, and it gets better with every listen.

Their tour mates Crystal Castles provide a decent remix for the B-side, but, as expected, it makes no improvements on the brilliance of the A-side, except to simply pop a glowstick in its hand for a night out clubbing.

Great things are expected of White Lies (even Nick Cave and Morrissey have taken time out to see White Lies live), but when singer Harry McVeigh cries “This fear’s got a hold on me”, I couldn’t help but sympathise. I fear they may never top this.