If music is said to reflect the times we’re living in, then White Lies’ gloomy, gothic soundscapes are a perfect fit for these dark and uncertain days. Taking all the best elements of the Bunnymen, the Cure and Joy Division, the Ealing three-piece sure know how to craft a tune or three. There may be only 10 tracks on the record, but nine of them (with apologies to ‘Fifty On Our Foreheads’) are world beating, stadium-swellers.
The opus kicks off with the happily titled ‘Death’ and from the start we’re treated to some good old-fashioned indie music, free from pretensions, ill-advised fashion choices and smack-addled fifth form poetry.
There are tons of highlights on To Lose My Life… such as the Kate Bush ‘Hounds of Love’ tribute ‘From The Stars’ and the perfect pop of ‘Unfinished Business.’ They also throw in some uptempo stormers like the sublime (and soon to be huge) ‘Farewell To The Fairground’, which shine like stars in the night.
There are no two ways about it, To Lose My Life… is going to be huge – Optimus Prime-style huge. For the next year ‘E.S.T.’, the title-cut and more will soundtrack our every move with Harry McVeigh’s vocals haunting us like ghosts. A special mention has to go to knob twiddler Ed Buller, who proves that his work with Glasvegas and The Killers were no flukes – but this will always be White Lies’ show.
“If judgement day started tonight at least I’d know I was right,” croons McVeigh on ‘A Place To Hide’ and it’s this strength of conviction that raises White Lies from being indie also-rans to festival headliners. Everyone can believe in a band like this and ’09 should be theirs for the taking – should they want it, of course.

Key Track: ‘Unfinished Business’