The 1975 - Love It If We Made It

Introduced to the world with yet more giant billboards and anonymously-posted lyric sheets, the latest track from The 1975 was never going to be shy and retiring. In fact, at first glance, it could’ve been gaudy; an attempt to reenact the song’s opening line (“Saying controversial things / Just for the hell of it”). In reality, ‘Love It If We Made It’ feels vital.

Its introductory swell of sparkling synths is much like business as usual for the band, but it’s within the biting lyrics of its verses that things really become seductive. A Black Mirror-esque stream of consciousness, the track’s lyrics once again channel the bleak new world messaging of the band’s current ‘Music For Cars’ “era”. Unlike the personal nature of ‘Give Yourself A Try’, its follow-up faces outwards and takes square aim at pop culture, politics and society all in one fell swoop.

A collection of - according to Matty Healy - “direct quotes from people, or headlines I’ve read,” out of context and buried in amongst the hazy electronics, his words feel razor sharp, his pilfering transformed into cleverly pinpointed quips on the state of modernity.

It’s not all darkness here though: when the chorus kicks in, the relief feels glorious. Its repeated refrain of “I’d love it if we made it” becomes the silver lining to our world’s black cloud, the first bright dawn after a storm. It’s less a catchy throwaway line and more a statement of affairs, a truth that’s probably crossed all of our minds at some point recent, in light of recent world events. Modernity may have failed us, but if this new offering says anything, it’s that The 1975 won’t let it get away that easy.