Luminous showed signs of a notoriously eclectic band finally discovering a sound that they’d like to stick to – even if it was essentially Skying with a bit more distortion, which doesn’t make it poor listening anyway. Bags packed and on the train to Sheffield, then.

Support act Telegram play a short set of pedal-infused nearly-punk to a full room of sweaty teens in skinny jeans who stare in anticipation of the main event, pints of cheap lager in hand. No-one leaves in the interval though – a testament to the fanbase that The Horrors have gathered. Not a single note shall be missed by the packed Leadmill collective.

The incredibly tall Faris Badwan saunters onto the stage to much applause with cough syrup at the ready. A short, synthy intro later and they’re into the new album’s opener Chasing Shadows, complete with obscenely bright lights that force a shoe gaze, but the show doesn’t really get going until they break into Primary Colours favourite Who Can Say a few songs in. A seamless transition between Badwan’s final gothic plea to ‘get away’ and the familiar offbeat synth triads of Sea Within A Sea makes the latter appear darker, more urgent and ultimately, an even more intriguing listen.

Luminous closer Sleepwalk proves to be a very strong live track, with a transcendent laser show echoing its haunting chorus riff.  The show is stolen, though, by the powerful Mirror’s Image, the full room chanting relentlessly, dirge-like: ‘walk on into the night’.

The show’s encore proved underwhelming, however, with an extended Moving Further Away not quite being ‘big’ enough – perhaps Luminous seven-minuter I See You would have been a better choice. Despite this, The Horrors showed that they are developing – these days eyes everywhere are transfixed firmly on them, and not down at the shoes.

Carl White

photo 1: manchestereveningnews.co.uk
photo 2: plugnplaymusicblog.com