The Horrors released one of the albums of 2009 with their latest, Primary Colours; “Whole New Way,” a brand new non-lp single, due out in early November, proves they are still the band to beat as we edge into 2010.

Primary Colours, the Horrors’ second album, was a millennial leap forward over their first, 2007’s Strange House, which proffered contrived Goth-infused garage posing. Primary Colours, however, proved a revelation – an explosive, kaleidoscopic fun house thrill ride through psychedelia, shoegaze, Sonic Youth-style noise experimentalism, Madchester beats, arty krautrock drone and more. Despite the constant references, the album proved more than an anachronism – instead, it was more a bold statement from a gang of young musicians about just what makes good music, and what doesn’t, and the rest can just piss off, thank you very much. The Horrors latest single maintains that approach while applying yet more new hues to the Primary Colours sound.
For one,  “Whole New Way” proves friendlier and poppier than almost anything on Primary Colours – yet doesn’t lose any of its balls or experimental edge. The Neu! motorik rhythms are still there, but singer Faris Badwan sounds almost (gasp!) hopeful and romantic, imbuing the song with a kind of sunshiny, Stone Roses-style optimism that feels decidedly fresh (as do the slight daubs of Aphex Twin-style IDMtronic bits amidst the airy atmospherics). Supposedly multi-talent Damon Albarn of Blur, Gorillaz, The Good, The Bad, and The Queen et al helped produce, and his sprawling influence, while hard to discern, is certainly welcome. Then again, “Whole New Way” confirms that, regardless who’s behind the boards, the Horrors know where they are going, what they want to sound like, and what makes good music. And we’re all wholly better for it…