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The View – Exorcism of Youth – Released 18th August 2023
Words: Elena Katrina

I’ve sat on this new album by The View for a while, I just didn’t have time to write it up but now I’ve grabbed myself half an hour and I’m going to see what comes out as I re-listen and type away. It’s been some time since The View released any material, and actually even longer since I listened. I was there cheering them on from the start (as you’d probably expect from me) and then my interest dwindled as their popularity gained. I can’t even say that I have heard all of their material and I kind of don’t want to in case it ruins this because I’m really enjoying it. I wasn’t expecting to.

In places, it shows their maturity and at other times perhaps harking back to those halcyon days of playing dirty basement venues to filling bigger and bigger venues, with huge festival crowds chanting back the lyrics to “Wasted Little DJ’s”. There is a little that might appeal to fans from across their 17 years as a band (12 if you include the 5 years they weren’t actually playing together.)

My favourite tracks are currently the title track “The Exorcism of Youth” It feels like a classic indie jangle but also has a decent breakout that I think it going to sound immense live. “Shovel In His Hands” is that a Hammond I hear? Makes sense given their producer (Youth) has worked with the likes of The Charlatans. In fact, maybe that’s exactly why I like this song, in parts it could have been written by Burgess et al. If you aren’t hearing it then I suggest you check out the “Who We Touch” and “You Cross My Path” albums by them. The organ here gives the perfect sound for a creepy devil/death dance.

Listen to Shovel In His Hands here:

“Black Mirror” is one of those more mature tracks. It’s dripping in sadness and resentment but I really love Falconer’s vocals on this track, perhaps more than most of the album. There’s such emotion coming through, perhaps not something I would previously have considered The View to be capable of. Straight after it, you get the antidote with “Neon Lights” – a rockier track that has a smattering of dirty bass but as a track is catchy as hell. A section of it toward the end perfectly captures a city soundscape, there’s a twinkle, a scream, a darkness and of course sirens.

Listen to Neon Lights here:

The neigh-sayers will probably contest this album as being brilliant, but that is exactly what it is. I haven’t found a track on it that I feel is filler. There’s cohesion despite the fact the band play with different sounds and effects and on different tracks. Those who are already familiar with some of their more recent singles and EP releases might well already be ahead of the game with Woman Of The Year – a track that well stopped me in my tracks because there’s something about the musical phrasing within the verses that remind me, ever so slightly of very early Clean Cut Kid. The subject matter and brutal honesty belie the upbeat tempo, this song is so depressing lyrically but those catchy hooks are going to get people screaming them back and then breaking into dance. Again, I haven’t heard all of The View’s back catalogue so I don’t know when this change happened but I’m now intrigued. I need to go back and do some digging.

Listen to Woman Of The Year here:

It is safe to say that “Exorsim Of Youth” as an album has hit me in so many unexpected ways. The emotion, the stadium rock band riffs, the major label hooks, the demons that come out to play and dare I say it there’s even a contender for a modern-day power ballad. I didn’t ever think I’d be writing a review about The View, yet look what’s just happened. I think some people will be surprised that I have done this to be honest – especially given that my time for reviews is shorter than ever now. But credit where credit is due, I’ve enjoyed the hours of listening to the “Exorcism Of Youth” and I hope you will too.