As ever, there's one person without whom this post doesn't exist. Much appreciation to Gary for another excellent capture from the crowd, adding to this little museum of Editors' history. You're awesome, Sir, and thank you.
Given that this is a separate section of the EBM tour campaign, returning as it did from a break, there was a curiosity as to how or if they'd change things up for UK audiences. They did. The set list has been tweaked slightly with Silence from the new record making its debut, Fingers in the Factories coming back, Nothing and an abbreviated version of Lights being played acoustically, and the return of an old favourite from ITLAOTE, The Boxer. The question of "How do the older numbers sound with BM involved?" is answered again. They sound good. Real good.
One of the firearms employed during 20th Century global armed conflict was a machine gun called a Browning, and when used it was often in conjunction with a tripod called an M3. Why, you ask, would I think to bring up military trivia in a post about our sunlight-avoiding minstrels? Well, it is my opinion that when they play live Ed is the Browning, with Russell acting as the M3.
This dynamic between those two gentlemen and what it provides is evident at every junction of Editors' career and on every album. The difference on this album campaign is that their contribution has been weaponized, going from acting as a concrete base that punctuates and carries a song, to a solid hand that lifts you up while it punches you in the stomach repeatedly. Listening to the studio takes that make up EBM is like occupying a howling blizzard at times, but live it's more like an attack. In a good way, obviously.
The reintroduction of The Boxer on this part of the touring cycle led me to some very fun (but ultimately futile) thought experiments over the past few days. Given Ben's obvious skills with electronics, as well as the unique approach he applies when using them, I started wondering what kind of record would have been assembled had he been involved with In This Light and on This Evening? If you're familiar with the band's history, then you'll know that they were keen to step away from the guitars after two albums of having them at the fore. Who better to expedite that process than BM? So I pondered a hypothetical change in personnel and what it would sound like.
Now, if you're joining me on this then you may be tempted to have this new version of Editors working on their third long-player circa 2008-2009 as being Tom, Russell, Ed and Ben.
Nope.
A songwriter and lyricist with a penchant for gloomy stuff
A dedicated rhythm section that holds everything together,one of whom is also a dj
A guitarist/photographer/film-maker/beard cultivator/obscene finger-gesture enthusiast and producer with a background in art-rock
An electronic composer and producer
A DJ who just happens to sing, play keys and guitar and who hasn't even turned 20 yet
A gentleman who can play guitar, loves experimenting with electronics and takes being in the studio over the horrors of touring
A dedicated rhythm section that holds everything together,one of whom is also a dj
A guitarist/photographer/film-maker/beard cultivator/obscene finger-gesture enthusiast and producer with a background in art-rock
An electronic composer and producer
A DJ who just happens to sing, play keys and guitar and who hasn't even turned 20 yet
A gentleman who can play guitar, loves experimenting with electronics and takes being in the studio over the horrors of touring
These are your ingredients, what can you do with them? Oh, the possibilities. What you have now is something more than just a band. It's a "collective". You might be tempted to question the amount of people involved, but let's remember that in 2023 Editors has 6 full-time contributors. I'm proposing one more.
Even though it could turn into a sloppy 7-way battle that leads to an unfocused sonic catastrophe, ultimately destroying the group before they hit record number 4...what if it didn't? What if everything that makes ITLAOTE so special and the energy and power of EBM were combined in just the right way to hit that sweet spot of the soul?
Of course, this line of musing leads to some of messy realities. The main one being that in order for Justin and Elliott to even appear, Chris has to leave. One can't happen without the other, so the whole thing collapses instantly. Also, in 2008 would the personalities involved have the developed sense of maturity that comes with experiencing life over time to be able to effectively accommodate all those differing opinions? We'll never know. However, I can tell you that I've heard the final recorded version of their collaborations several times in my head over the past week and they sound amazing. I'd share it with you but, you know, copyright issues and whatnot. Plus, it doesn't actually exist outside of my clearly deluded brain pan, so there's that too.
Enjoy the music ;)
MP3s
Heart Attack - download here
Strawberry Lemonade - download here
Bones - download here
Karma Climb - download here
Picturesque - download here
The Boxer - download here
Sugar - download here
Bullets - download here
Fingers in the Factories - download here
Blood - download here
Magazine - download here
Nothing - download here
Lights - download here
Silence - download here
Smokers - download here
The Racing Rats - download here
Kiss - download here
Violence - download here
No Harm - download here
Strange Intimacy - download here
An End Has a Start - download here
Munich - download here
Papillon - download here
All in a Zip - download here
brought to you with lots and lots of lemming-love :) x
