The Flaming Lips: The Terror

While The Terror is as psychedelic as ever, it’s not quite as dreamy as recent Flaming Lips’ excursions. In fact, it is arguably closer to the nightmare end of the sleep spectrum (albeit not in a way that would have you waking up screaming in the middle of the night).

The brooding drone of opening track ‘Look… The Sun Is Rising’ sets the tone. Ethereal vocals, forlorn-sounding synths and guitar lines glimmer intermittently astride languid drums.
There are hooks aplenty. It’s just that they’re cloaked behind a darker kind of exterior. Perhaps these reflections of gloom reflect the fact that this album was written in the wake of frontman Wayne Coyne’s split with his partner of 25 years. At times The Terror has the feel of the long sigh which follows a quarrel...

Key Track: ‘You Lust’