Editors turn to acoustic textures on new album Surface, Echo & Sound

Editors, who broke through in 2005 with The Back Room, are set to issue their eighth album, Surface, Echo & Sound, on October 30. The record departs from the industrial-electronic sound of their recent releases, foregrounding acoustic guitar on most tracks, a choice that arose naturally as the band jammed on new material.

Influences from 1980s new-wave groups like Echo & the Bunnymen, The Cure and R.E.M. surface in the melodies, while the lyrics explore fear, comfort and collective empowerment. Smith emphasized that acoustic arrangements soften the band’s usual darkness, creating a more textured sound. The members anticipate that the album will be straightforward to perform live, offering a mature, less confrontational concert experience as they approach their 25th anniversary.