The walking-pace drumbeat of ‘Is Love’, the opening track of White Lies’ second effort ‘Ritual’, sets the tone for what is, at least at first, a mind-numbingly pedestrian album. Two tracks in and the jaw-dropping irony of lines like “I gotta make this happen/I got a sense of urgency” suggests a new tack: White Lies have forgone depressive lyrics in favour of simply imposing depression on their listeners. Songs like ‘Peace & Quiet’ or lead single ‘Bigger Than Us’ will undoubtedly sound impressive emanating grandly from tinny stadium PA systems, but on record they sound insipid. That said, the album’s second half is a distinct improvement; ‘Come Down’ would sit well on the nightbus playlist of any au fait hipster, whereas ‘The Power & The Glory’ and ‘Bad Love’ share a similar introverted pensiveness. It’s a shame that White Lies don’t allow their more reflective side to show more often; it’s infinitely more attractive than their anaemic (stadium) filler.
