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If you haven't had your ears to the ground or your eyes scouring the new band radar, there is a chance that Editors might have passed you by. Since 2003, Editors have marched to the beat of their own drum by touring on their own and touring hard without significant early press or radio play. In the span of their first four runs, all of which they headlined, their crowds grew from 40 people a night, to 200 a night, to 400 a night, to 2000+ crowds singing along and dancing to every song. The first tours proved to be an experiment of such .one that allowed the Birmingham-based quartet to create and test an astoundingly visceral, mesmeric and charismatic brew that they would then record on their debut The Back Room. Produced by Jim Abbiss (whose production credits include Bjork, DJ Shadow, Placebo, Ladytron Ambulance LTD and Suede), the narcotic soundtrack erupts with fits of angry buzzing guitars, hypnotic stabbing rhythms, intelligent emotive lyrics and infectious hooks, that simultaneously channels that sort of vibrant simplicity fans used to see of the classic U2 albums War and Boy. The 11-song set is a poignant, adrenalin-charged ode to life's deep, dark truths.


"I think our sound most reflects the state of our lives and the environment we were recording in at that time," says guitarist Chris Urbanowicz. "We had shit jobs and had these long walks to the studio through mind-numbingly ordinary concrete suburbs There's a lot of pent up aggression and determinism working throughout this album (laughs). That's really the underlying thread. Naturally, the album represents our reaction to and fight against the ordinary and the mundane "

"It's really flattering that lately we have been compared to so many great influential bands many of which we've never even heard until recently" reveals lead vocalist / guitarist Tom Smith. "If anything, our sound has been most influenced by alternative pop bands like REM - especially 'Murmur' and 'Reckoning', Radiohead, Elbow, Spiritualized and The Cure. We're also huge fans of college rock 'Americana' groups like The Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev and Grandaddy. All of these, both consciously and subconsciously, helped shape our musical blueprint but our sound is our own. Although we do love the fact that people can draw their own conclusions and interpret our music however they like."

The Back Room hovers in the dusky expanses between hope, melancholy, salvation and euphoria. Goth sentiment sidles up against post-punk angst for an album that's both musically and lyrically rewarding across a 20+ year generational divide. But while the album embraces the darker sides of existence, it's smoky flavor and textural effect ultimately strives to bask in the radiant sunlight through the dense fog. The stark contrast between songs like "Munich" and "Camera" allow the group to stretch their creative wings, illustrating that they have more colors on their palate than just black. In fact, their black is not the absence of color at all, but rather the presence of all color.

"We've always sought to challenge ourselves and experiment with different sounds in order to bring out all of the rich colors within our sound" Tom explains. "There have always been two distinct sides to what we do. On one hand there is the more energetic, immediate and aggressive side, which is counter-balanced by the more introspective and melancholic side."

"That's true," Chris admits. "'Camera' and 'Munich' are the strongest examples of that duality, both thematically and sonically. They are the album's centerpieces and really encapsulate the brooding aggression, lyrical introspection, texture and energizing pop sensibilities that have become our signature. "

"I think the key to our success has been our ability to convey thoughts, feelings and emotions that many people have experienced and can relate to" Tom continues. "Our goal was to create a cohesive collection that could conjure images, take you on a journey and make you think. We've managed to spark a real sense of camaraderie or kinship between ourselves and our fans; and that has been the most gratifying experience."

Simply put, The Back Room is a timeless songbook that resonates with the outsider in us all. Blissfully nostalgic and contemporary, this ambitious and euphoric vision is a document of an emerging group at the onset of their own great rock 'n' roll story. This album is destined to become one of this year's soundtracks for the despondent "entitled generation," offering an equal sense of optimism and despair that is infectious, cathartic and liberating.


Editors are: Tom Smith (vocals / guitar), Chris Urbanowicz (guitar), Russell Leetch (bass) and Ed Lay (drums)