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Psychedelic Furs frontman Richard Butler may not be aware that he has an illegitimate spawn in Horrors lead singer Faris Badwan. Sure, it's been hinted at in the two previous offerings, but there's some serious love being spit here for the John Hughes muse. Skying is an epic swash of shoegaze, Britpop, and succulent reverb rock. There are stops, starts, and build-ups like the sneaky magoo of "Endless Blue," a track that starts off like a Pulp spectacle for a minute and a half before drenching down rifftastically. Guitar lines mingle seamlessly with keyboards which dot the proceedings in an un-annoying way while sending a nod to the "Age of Consent" era. Badwan is clutch at delivering somber paeans on tracks like "Oceans Burning" and "Changing the Rain," unafraid to rock with his Libertines out on "Monica Gems." The one problem — the only one — is that Skying jumps around quite a bit. Stone Roses, New Order, a nick of old-school Duran Duran, and enough synth to make Cold Cave blush are just a few of the roads traveled. Each song is like a single rather than part of a deeper and brighter full-LP picture. That's not necessarily a bad thing, because all the singles swell and pulse as needed. For the most part, it's like a time-travel expedition back to when My Bloody Valentine ruled the land of college dorms everywhere — and pretty in pink was the way to be.
THE HORRORS | Brighton Music Hall, 158 Brighton Ave, Allston | October 3 @ 8 pm | $15 | 18+ | 617.779.0140
