New music: The Horrors – Still Life

When the Horrors emerged in 2006, black-clad and back-combed, they were quickly dismissed as a pantomime punks. While their 2007 debut, Strange House, had its moments – the garage thrash of Sheena Is a Parasite – their self-conscious image and humourless interviews made them a subject of ridicule. Then came Sea Within a Sea in 2009, an undulating eight minutes that swapped short bursts of vitriol for krautrock-influenced post-punk. It's parent album, Primary Colours, was nominated for the Mercury prize and suddenly confessing to liking the Horrors didn't provoke a snide response. Still Life, the first song from the band's forthcoming third album Skying, has echoes of Primary Colours in the warm synth washes but there's a new lightness of touch, not least in singer Faris Badwan's vocals. Also, they've clearly been listening to a lot of Simple Minds. • Skying will be released on 11 July by XL