EVERYTHING EVERYTHING レコード& CD

Review: Already on their seventh studio album, synth-pop kings Everything Everything return to the fore with Mountainhead, a concept album critiquing modern-day zealotry, economic warfare, and narcissism, centring on the idea of mirrors at the top and snakes at the bottom. A primeval analogy for the modern psychic climate in fourteen-track form, the topic at hand certainly sounds ominous; but the music is nonetheless always as enjoyable as EE's music usually permits. In contrast to prior albums Man Alive and Raw Data Feel, both of which made rigorous use of Artificial Intelligence to generate and effect sound, Mountainhead is deliberately processing-shy, with the band publicly avowing their not using any plugins and effects. Whether this represents an appeal by the band for their audience to downshift and embrace a less future-obsessive life, you be the judge. A powerful metaphor for the economic warfare of everyday life, Mountainhead is an urgent message wrapped in a chart-topper.

Review: English art and indie rockers Everything Everything made quite the impact with their debut album in 2010. The record went on to peak at number 17 in the UK album charts but announced them as masters of a number of different styles with math rock, r&b, hip-hop, electronica, baroque and choral music all drawn upon while singer Jonathan Higgs delivered his complex verses in a rhythmic, falsetto style. The album is repressed here as it was back then - though a deluxe version is also available on these pages - and reminds us just how good the band was at crafting intricate tunes.