Album Review CHVRCHES - The Bones Of What You Believe

There’s a moment half way through ‘Tether’ that sums up everything that’s so impressive about ‘The Bones Of What You Believe’. The track itself isn’t the barnstorming pop smash you’d expect to become the standout moment of the Scottish three piece’s debut album, and yet as those trance like synths build, threaten euphoria then die away to be replaced by a whole different refrain, the true art of CHVRCHES becomes apparent.

The slew of predictions and tipster nods that came at the start of the year were to be expected, but this isn’t a band who would ever soil themselves at the first sign of pressure. Instead, they carried on doing what they did best - retreating to their studio to craft perfect electro-pop gems. Even with their standout singles all in working order, there’s nothing so saccharine sweet as to require limited exposure. ‘The Mother We Share’, as an opener, is more hauntingly impressive than ever before. In context, ‘Gun’ and ‘Lies’ hit just as hard, but it’s not just those already well known that possess that magic touch. ‘We Sink’ glitches its way to a wonderfully vindictive promise to ‘be the thorn in your side till you die’, while ‘Lungs’, jerking like a reanimated android, proves there’s no fear of front weighting. When less immediate, CHVRCHES’ talents are even more striking. Like a proper album, closer ‘You Caught The Light’ burns slow but bright. Martin Doherty’s vocal talents may be often ignored in the shadow of bandmate Lauren Mayberry’s near iconic delivery, but here they’re perfect.

That ‘The Bones Of What You Believe’ isn’t just a vehicle to deliver that super hit is remarkable in itself. As twelve equally matched moments of varied tone but consistent brilliance, it’s nothing short of exactly what was expected - the start of something even bigger.