Hurts – Faith
Faith by Hurts is a pop-noir experience. A mix of 1980s production with a blend of 1990s instrumental and vocal compositions, it explores lyrical themes of self-error and insecurity, reevaluating one’s own mistakes and corruption. It seeks safety and redemption from building regrets, finding peace amongst the darkness of inner passions and desire. The record is an intoxicating blend of religious and literary motifs against bodies touching.
Faith opens with the acoustic scratches of Voices. It uses production, vocal stylistics, harmonies and backing vocals to echo the effect of layers upon layers of different voices. This reflects the title’s nuance, adding cinematic excitement to this sharp and pronounced opening. Suffer is a monochromatic thrill. It’s steady and sensual with psychedelic beats indulging in ghostly marvel. The sinister little whispers of Fractured creep through after, delivered by the husky edge of the vocals. The disgruntled and corrupt arrangement of instruments adds to the murky and volatile tone, lending meaning to the track’s name.
All I Have to Give is slow and forgiving. The piano hums clearly alongside soft vocals. The simplicity in the subtle reverb added to the vocals echoes the juxtaposition in the light delivery but heavy emotions of the instruments. There’s a small spark of modern production to really give this specific song its own edge compared to all the others on the album. In complete contrast, Somebody is rough with a strong taste of rock. Filled with attitude, its cool and smooth delivery is wrapped up in bad behaviour to really emphasise the lyrics’ aggression.
Redemption quietly seeks for desperate forgiveness. This is very much reflected by the instrumental crescendo that climaxes with the call of the vocals. It transitions the overall record to fuller notes of regret before it swiftly moves on to the final song, Darkest Hour. As a closer, it wraps the album up nicely with all the instrumental and production stylings of the previous numbers. Lyrically, it asserts itself as a conclusion that is open to new beginnings and journeys.
Overall, Faith is stripped of the grandeur of hysteria, yet it still provides that haunting quality we seek in dark pop. It’s a little off-balance in some parts and average in the grand scheme of things, but it still manages to stand out with its own idiosyncrasies.
Mae Trumata
Photo: Hurts
is released on 4th September 2020. For further information or to order the album visit Hurts’s website here.
Watch the video for Somebody here:
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