The Psychedelic Furs, Made of Rain (Cooking Vinyl, 2020)

 

Reviewed by Null

I don’t know what you think of when you think of The Psychedelic Furs. You may simply remember them as a band that helped define an “80s sound” with their hits in that era. However, if you are a real fan of the band, then your image of them is much more dark, emotional, and complicated.  

I always think of them as a punk band, much like The Cure or Joy Division. This harkens back to a time when punk was much more diverse in its sound. The Psychedelic Furs developed a more commercial sound in the mid-80s and eventually moved to a more atmospheric version of themselves. Yet, though all of these changes, The Furs always sound like The Furs: arty, cynical, political, and, at moments, beautifully sad.

Indeed, their masterpiece, Book of Days, wasn’t recorded until 1989, when only the true fans were still listening. Book of Days is to the Furs what Disintegration is to The Cure. In 1991, their last brilliant album, World Outside, was released. 

Thus, it has been 29 years since The Furs released a new album, and the crazy thing is that Made of Rain sounds like they pick up right where they left off with World Outside. Made of Rain isn’t a nostalgic trip, nor is it some unrecognizable version of the band. Astonishingly, it achieves the impossible. Twenty-nine years later, it is a natural progression, and it’s The Furs through and though. This is even more remarkable when considering that the only two original members are Richard and Tim Butler, on vocals and bass. It speaks to how much of the band’s sound resides in the brothers’ continued collaboration. The other members of the band couldn’t really be called “new,” because most, if not all of them, have been playing live with the band for many years. Kudos to them. Beyond the brothers, the other members make, frankly, kick-ass contributions. This is a band. Made of Rain makes it clear that The Furs are currently, yes, presently, a great band. 

I feel like I just ran into an old friend who I never knew I would hear from again. The years have passed and they have changed, but they are still the same friend I knew and loved. In a world that seems to be more and more filled with disappointment, it is a small victory that I still share the planet with this old friend.

If you’re a casual fan of the band, I don’t know what you might think of this album. However, if you’re a long-time, deep fan, and actually know their body of work, you’ll love this record.