White Lies - To Lose My Life

White Lies is a band that wears its influences (Joy Division, Editors, Interpol) so blatantly, it questions where you drawer the line between inspiration and plagiarism. The 10 tracks here more than pay homage to these bands, who have made a pretty damn successful career from the fusion of moody, atmospheric guitars with synths - which also begs the question - do we really need yet another act like this to add to the pile?

Single and title track 'To Lose My Life' sets a pace that rarely changes for these 45 exhausting, disappointing and lackluster minutes, in which we hear everything from mournful New Order organs and reverb-soaked drumming, Depeche Mode-like drum machines and synths, rumbling bass, epic early U2 guitars and the melancholic stadium rock of contemporary names like The Killers.

While they may tick all the right boxes of their influences, every aspect of this band - from the black-and-white Joy Division-esque photos, to the tinny 80s production, through to the eye-rolling lyrics and obvious song titles (that brush over your usual subjects - death, suicide, isolation etc) - is so contrived, so pre-planned, that there isn't an ounce of originality or passion involved. A factor that isn't helped by the lack of genuine emotion of vocalist Harry McVeigh.