Friends (Deluxe Version)

Light continues to shine out of the gloaming on the London trio’s fourth album. Having previously examined mortality and alienation, White Lies’ worldview fixates on disintegrating friendships here. However, built with synths and melodrama straight from the ’80s, it’s rock that accentuates their gift for musical euphoria. With “Take It out on Me”’s ode to masochism suggesting Springsteen at his most triumphant and “Is My Love Enough?” almost tipping into disco, Friends is a fascinating juxtaposition of moods.