HURTS レコード& CD

Review: It's probably nothing more than a coincidence that the title of Hurts' latest longform shares a name with one of the late-George Michael's most celebrated records. Then again the opening number does boast staccato rhythms stopping dead to allow Theo Hutchcraft's vocals to take centre stage before beats drop back in. And those vocals drip male sex appeal and immediate crossover potential, so you can see where you might start drawing more parallels.

By the time staggeringly beautiful piano ballad "All I Have To Give" is done the situation is clear. Maturing well beyond the stereotypes of contemporary synth pop outfits, 'Faith' is Hurts realising their true pop potential. From the compressed percussion and tense organs of "Liar" (a tune that sounds like "In The Air Tonight" has landed in the dusty playgrounds of today's lo-fi electronica), it's as stylistically broad as it is rightly confident in its own power.