Not Quite A New Lease Of Life
It’s easy to see why White Lies chose new single, ‘Death’ to close their Glastonbury set; it’s just the kind of epic tune that aspires to captivate a festival crowd at sunset with soaring vocals and crashing percussion. There’s more than a touch of The Killers about the rumbling vocals and surging electro sounds that come off especially well in the slightly theatrical closing minutes. The album version of the track lasts just under 5 minutes, beginning with shuffling percussion and a fractious beat beneath musing vocals; it’s good stuff but a little lacklustre and it takes its time to build to the eventual climax.
The chorus aims for Joy Division’s quiet, humble but all-consuming depth but fails to hit the mark as the vocals just a little indifferent. The lyrics tread the line between oblique and intriguing and show that White Lies definitely have a poetic side. The band’s hype will certainly ensure that this tune is a success and while it has plenty of potential, if you want to listen to a modern epic, I’d advise that you skip straight to Arcade Fire.