The Psychedelic Furs – Made of Rain

It’s been 30 years since The Psychedelic Furs graced the world with a new album, one of the longest gaps between recordings of any major artist ever. Well-known for touring prodigiously, the Butler brothers have never been far from earshot with their plethora of New Wave hits and stadium shows. A recent slew of features on contemporary TV shows and cinema, including Oscar-winning film Call Me By Your Name and Netflix’s Stranger Things, has collapsed that 30-year absence just in time to introduce a new generation to the Furs with their latest, Made of Rain.

Exploding with opener The Boy That Invented Rock & Roll, Butler and co have not dimmed with the passing of time. Growling effects and Richard Butler’s own vocals, now hardened compared to the ethereal whispers of his younger self, add a fresh, distinctive edge to the Furs’ sound.

With Wrong Train, an angsty ballad drenched in reverb with lyrics emotive enough to make a teenager shake with a sense of wanderlust, it would seem the band are unaware they are pushing 60 and beyond. However, this sad banger with a grungy kick captures the eternal sound of the group: a timeless, defiant youthfulness wrapped up in a sprawling sonic palette. Tracks like You’ll Be Mine illustrate their sheer range, a rich orchestration with a Celtic twist, while the more measured Ash Wednesday and This’ll Never Be Like Love reveal their deft hand at more restrained, but no less powerful, song-making.

On No-One Richard Butler’s smart, evolving lyricism comes to the fore, accentuated by Paul Garisto’s pounding drums and Rich Good’s captivating riffs. As with Hide the Medicine, the contrast between the intense instrumentalisation and Butler’s often ominous vocals maintains the enthralling dark majesty of the Furs, even after all this time.

Ultimately, Made of Rain is The Psychedelic Furs to a tee: a far-reaching record with beautiful songs – although it’s hard to point to one defining track in particular. With an immense production quality and that classic Furs magic, this album was certainly worth the wait.  

Jasper Watkins
Photo: Matthew Reeve

Made of Rain is released on 31^st July 2020. For further information or to order the album visit The Psychedelic Furs’ website here.

Watch the video for Come All Ye Faithful here: