Is it possible to balance the fact that we adore the Brighton band Mirrors whilst utterly despising the Manchester band Hurts? Yes. Yes it is. That’s the exact position The Recommender finds itself in. Is it a geographical thing, seeing as we too are based in Brighton, as we are more inclined to value and support local talent? No. No it isn’t. The two bands are by no means identical, but they do share a percentage of familiar elements, all of which could find favour with the same fans – big synth chords, dramatic songs with soaring choruses, lots of arpeggiated riffs, a dark undertone throughout each song, a reflection of 80s electronic pop acts such as OMD and Depeche Mode, both bands even adorn classy suits and perfectly-combed Hitler haircuts on stage. However the differences, albeit occasionally subtle, are most definitely there and it perhaps takes a keen ear to define them.
In simple terms, Mirrors are fucking brilliant and Hurts are proper shite. That shouldn’t be too hard for most folks to spot now should it, but perhaps consider the details. Mirrors provide just enough drama without going all camp and overly-theatrical, where as Hurts actually rehearse which way they should hold their comb on stage, much like, say, Westlife. Mirrors are aimed at grown ups, Hurts are aiming for teenagers who think they’re grown ups. Mirrors write decent lyrics of desperation and wanting to change, Hurts write lyrics that are pulled directly from the bucket of cliches, such as “Everywhere there’s joy around this festive time of year” – taken from their ill-advised 2010 attempt at an attention-grabbing Christmas single. The differences between the bands are actually rather like the differences between an erect and a flaccid penis, both are classed as anatomically the same, but where one stands tall and is impressively useful, the other is mostly unattractive and only useful for spilling piss. Why do we go on in this way you might ask? Well, apart from it being enjoyable and to stir up debate – the last time we slated Hurts their fans nearly took a contract out on us (see that here) – but mostly it’s because we believe today’s recommendation sits somewhere between to the two bands. The question is, can we allow ourselves to like a band bridging that dangerous gap?
Stangers had a busy year in 2011, releasing three EPs and gaining attention from a range of useful UK blogs and radio stations. They’re a trio made up of songwriter, David Maddox-Jones, formerly of The Departure, alongside Raife Hacking and Piers Sherwood-Roberts. They delivered several original tunes and some useful remixes on the EPs, with their trademark shadowy electronic pop that is often tinged with classy moments. Most of the work confidently bridges the difficult gap but if Hurts are the central reservation’s crash barriers, then they veer across several lanes, very nearly slamming into them with the tune, Promises, which introduces similar saccharine clichés, “I shoulda never said the things I said“. Visit other work though and the sheen and the gloss is more deftly applied, as they drive with precision on tunes such as Lies and It Was A Sin. They return in 2012 with their next single, Shine On You, which is due to be released on the label that brought us their early work, Killing Moon Limited. The new tune is a more direct track than the early work, seemingly aimed at the charts, or as a soundtrack to all those upcoming slow-motion BBC montages at this summer’s Olympics. It’s still very well-produced, although mostly predictable, with one foot still in the darker shadows and the other in more of a teenage spotlight.
They’ve previously covered Tears For Fears’ tune, Shout, which sounds like a very fine effort, although we’re not sure they’re stirring in many new ingredients, so perhaps we like it so much because the original song is so awesome. At the very least it’s rather refreshing to see one of these bands cover their influences – imitation is indeed the highest form of flattery, imitation without admitting it however is scandalous theft, so by wearing their influences on their sleeve they’ve ducked that accusation with flying colours. Elsewhere they’ve remixed Massive Attack’s Teardrop, although we’d prefer to see them make original work alongside Liz Fraser’s vocals, but that’s easier said than done. Their cover of Lana Del Rey’s Video Games unfortunately sounds totally wrong sung by a bloke and only makes them look like they’re riding someone else’s hype rather than genuinely adding anything worthwhile to the original.
The band seem to be going through a period of maturation, with a shift from their starting point, which had a pop noir style to it, to a more grand electronic pop scale. Unfortunately that suggests stepping out from the Mirrors-influenced beginnings and into the Hurts oblivion, but this is perhaps understandable when you compare the two bands commercial success. Where is the real money? Which of the two bands wins the awards? Who plays upon the largest stages? The attraction for any band would be to head towards the commercial light, but as someone who is dissecting their music and ambitions critically it’s impossible to suggest that this is the right move. But who are we to direct? If it’s about the music, and Strangers are clearly capable of creating some magical moments, then they have the armoury to defeat the commercial temptations, but if it’s all about making a living at all costs to credibility, then don’t expect music critics to save you from the crash barriers. The band are at a junction, and in fairness their latest song is perhaps their finest yet, so we’re hoping the path they’ve chosen brings them a future that achieves that most difficult of career aims – to gain both critical and commercial success. What they have to decide is what scares them more, potentially being skint, or being panned by critics. You can’t bridge gaps forever, as eventually you have to go one way or the other. Get the direction wrong and the central reservation will be something that hurts in more ways than one. (MB)
STRANGERS – SHINE ON YOU
STRANGERS – IN CHAOS
STRANGERS – IN CHAOS (PAPER CROWS REMIX)
