‘Munich’ is in fact the second single from Birmingham based four piece Editors, who with their clever debut The Back Room have been quietly on the cusp of becoming rather successful.  Over the last year their initial single ‘Bullets’ sold out on day on release, the album passed the gold mark and they’ve toured extensively with the likes of Franz Ferdinand.  2006 sees them headlining their own tour of much larger venues such as Glasgow’s Barrowlands and, it would seem, heading for the limelight.   

Essentially, Editors sound like the best bits of Joy Division and Interpol placed into a blender.  Dark spiralling and clipped guitars, atmospheric synths, songs about life, loss and love, a lead singer with dark brooding vocals.  This isn’t to do them a disservice however.  The Back Room is an exceptionally well put together record and their songs possess a rhythm and grace which is almost hypnotic.  ‘Munich’ is no different.  A skyscraping riff introduces the song before the rhythm and bass guitars kick in, adding a muscular, almost upbeat element to a tune, which deals with the fragility of emotions and human nature in general.  The chorus, when it comes, is singalong despite the lyrical content. 

When you sound like either Joy Division or Interpol you have to be pretty special to pull it off.  Editors manage it gracefully, with seemingly minimal effort.  ‘Munich’ is a great song, which after the horrors of James Blunt in 2005, provides some optimism for the coming year.

(4/5)

Munich

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