“To lose my life”, the first album by British outfit White Lies has proven to be very divisive among critics. While some have praised the band’s dark sound, huge riffs, and bewitching choruses as the newest sensation in Pop Rock, others have felt that the type of music they are doing has been mastered by the likes of Interpol with better compositions and especially…better lyrics.  Personally, despite clunky phrasing, songs like Death (with lyrics like “Could there be love beneath these wings?”) or Farewell To The Fairground are just irresistibly disarming. Especially when you see them performed live as I did last night in the Elysee Montmarte of Paris.

Suddenly, the hype that’s been built around these guys, in Europe at least, makes complete sense. Their show is tightly put together and they never sound even a little bit off. I don’t know if it’s the plain black clothes, the carefully chosen lighting effects, or lead singer Harry McVeigh’s baritone and his carefully choreographed gestures but White Lies just ooze with charisma from the moment they set foot on stage. Their performance of “To lose my life” on Letterman might look corny (with the whole “it’s raining rose petals” thing) but in the end it has the right effect. The impression of a torrential outpour of emotions.

Now whether or not White Lies are genuine about their dark sentimentality or are just putting up an act can be debated. But Anthony Gonzales of M83, an expert in portraying the music of teenage angst, remixed “Nothing to Give” into a 6 minute epic track that might convince you (as it did me) that White Lies truly believe what they say.

White Lies – Nothing to Give (M83 Remix)

White Lies – Death

White Lies – Farewell To The Fairground