The appeal of ‘Horehound’ is found in the sheer balls of its creation. It’s dense but not impenetrable; it’s raw but not unhinged; it’s ferocious but not disturbing.
The heroic vision of the Monkeys has culminated in a brooding and dauntingly dark album, which is, from start to finish, their strongest and most accomplished work to date.
Impressive, thoughtful and frequently beautiful, The First Days of Spring is one of those records that asks for the hard work of the listener but rewards ten times over.
‘Veckatimest’ is not only the highest water mark in its makers’ careers to date, but also perhaps the finest record of its kind released so far this year.