The Psychedelic Furs return with the release of their new album ‘Made of Rain’
Highly influential post punk stars, The Psychedelic Furs release their new album, their first in nearly 30 years, ‘Made Of Rain,’ through Cooking Vinyl on 31 July 2020. Hard to believe it’s been that long since ‘World Outside’ was released in 1991.
From its exhilarating opening bars, Made Of Rain - sounds like The Psychedelic Furs and them alone. It’s a joy to hear again, fresher than ever. Their peerless permutations of art, aggression and ambience drive the dynamics, and it’s always been this originality which has set them apart, a cut above. The album was produced by Richard Fortus, whilst mixing duties were handled by Tim Palmer (David Bowie, U2, Robert Plant).
Led by vocal and lyrical genius Richard Butler with his brother Tim on bass, The Psychedelic Furs released seven critically acclaimed studio albums - ‘The Psychedelic Furs” (1980), ‘Talk Talk Talk’ (1981), ‘Forever Now’ (1982), ‘Mirror Moves’ (1984), Midnight To Midnight’ (1987), ‘Book Of Days’ (1989) and ‘World Outside’ (1991). They released many classic singles throughout the ’80’s and into the 90’s, including: ‘Sister Europe,’ ‘Love My Way,’ ‘The Ghost In You,’ ’ Pretty In Pink,’ ‘Heaven,’ ‘Heartbreak Beat,’ ’All That Money Wants’ and ‘Until She Comes.’
In recent years the band have toured continually completing a tour of North America in 2019 and played acclaimed shows at The Hollywood Bowl, All Points East, Hyde Park and Benicàssim. A celebrated handful of UK shows including headlining the prestigious Meltdown at the Royal Festival Hall at Robert Smith of The Cure’s request. This past October, the band played a sold-out tour of the UK and Europe which culminated in a triumphant show at the Roundhouse in London.
The last few years has seen the band’s legend growing, highlighted by the fact they have scored over 150 million streams of their songs worldwide. Their influence since arriving on the post-punk scorched-earth landscape four decades ago has reverberated and resonated from everyone from The Killers to REM to Foo Fighters to Bob Dylan has sung their praises.“I’m aware of the fact that people cite us an influence”, says Richard, “though I don’t often recognise it in their music. It’s gratifying of course, as it is that there’s still an interested and enthusiastic audience for us. That’s an honour.”
Many moons after Pretty In Pink (sort of) inspired that John Hughes movie, Love My Way has featured in Oscar-winning film Call Me By Your Name and The Ghost In You in sci-fi smash Stranger Things showing that The Psychedelic Furs are sounding stronger than ever. As anyone who’s seen the band lately knows, Butler remains one of the most watchable frontmen in the game.
After so long since their last release, the worry is that this could be for the die-hard Psychedelic Furs fans, but this is no one-off comeback special, and it deserves a far wider audience. No, this is the Psychedelic Furs at their modern best. It’s contemporary and with a depth and yet classically the Furs….. My favourite album of theirs has to be ‘Talk Talk Talk’ and this is right up there with it.
If you’re into stuff like the National, Editors, Interpol, the Killers then this will be right up your street. The album opens with The Boy Who Invented Rock and Roll. It has a wonderful nostalgic feel to it, the opening lyrics “A flight of crows, My insect heart, the ticking veins, this godless dark” it reminds me a little of The Sisters of Mercy in places. The vocals have changed over time. You often don’t notice when albums are more regular, but with a long break, they are obviously more mature, almost hardened, unlike the softer whispers of the younger band. But it fits the album so well, and adds a new dimension to their sound.
Some tracks show their great range and ability with fine effect, such as You’ll Be Mine which has an almost Celtic feel to it, reminiscent of something like a Big Country ballad. With a rich, thick tone - very different, but really good. Mention has to be made of the drumming of Paul Garisto which is exceptional too throughout. The patterns are complex and intricate, shifting effortlessly from powerful to delicate.
Another highlight for me is the almost ballad-like Wrong Train, with its acoustic guitar and reverb /distorted electric guitar effects, with it’s emotional and sad lyrics. It sounds full of angst, and youthful, but with a wonderful mature palette of sound.
We also have tracks like Ash Wednesday and This’ll Never Be Like Love which slow the pace right down and feel more restrained and almost calming, but somehow retain the power that makes the Furs songwriting so good. Long-serving sax player Mars Williams is a revelation and in particular on This’ll Never Be Like Love - his playing is so smooth and in many ways is one of the key elements of their trademark sound.
On No One the lyrics come back to the fore, again backed up by the exceptional drumming of Paul Garisto and the captivating guitar sounds from Rich Good. Similar in a way to another track Hide the Medicine, the contrast between the vocal performance and the complex soundtrack underneath works so effortlessly, and Butler’s often dark lyrics maintain the enthralling dark majesty of the Furs, even after all this time.
The last track is Stars is mellow and sad in equal measure. The chorus refrain of “these are the days, we will always remember” sound almost prophetic, and a statement on our times in 2020.
This album has a wonderful mix. First we have the gentle, mellow tracks such as Tiny Hands, then there’s the absolute classic, epic ones, such as You’ll Be Mine. Then again, there is darkness too, in tracks like Don’t Believe, Turn Your Back On Me, and This Will Never Be Like Love. Dark and intense, this is where the Furs excel for me, and it reaches its climax with the magnificent No One.
Ultimately though, ‘Made of Rain’ is classic The Psychedelic Furs, but brought right up to date for a new audience. This is why I hope it reaches out beyond their loyal fans, because it is an exceptional album and deserving of wider recognition. No one stand out track, but many belters and as you would expect, exception production. This is an album to submerge yourself in, one to drift away and relax, enjoying it’s almost cinematic soundscapes.
I just hope the next album isn’t 30 years away, because we need more of this from The Psychedelic Furs. A worth 9.0 from LiveWire Music and a great new addition to our library.
‘Made Of Rain’ will be available on Gatefold double 12” vinyl, CD, cassette and digital download with exclusive and signed items available from the band’s Official Store here: https://thepsychedelicfurs.com/. The full tracklisting is:
• The Boy That Invented Rock & Roll
• Don’t Believe
• You’ll Be Mine
• Wrong Train
• This’ll Never Be Like Love
• Ash Wednesday
• Come All Ye Faithful
• No-One
• Tiny Hands
• Hide The Medicine
• Turn Your Back on Me
• Stars
