Met with much scepticism (and more than a little guffawing from the music snobs) when they arrived on the scene in 2006 – thanks in no small part to their haircuts, being a bit like Noel Fielding, ridiculously tight jeans, and art-school pretensions – The Horrors quickly redeemed themselves by being, well, a bit good. In just a few years, the goth-popsters had gone from the brunt of Nathan Barley-esque sneers to one of the UK’s most prodigious outfits, adding resounding critical acclaim to their already cult status. In short; there’s little they can do wrong.
Frontman Faris Badwan is the heart-throb embodiment of this transformation, the awkward looking son of a Palestinian father and English mother wowed with Cat’s Eyes, a duo formed with Italian-Canadian opera singer Rachel Zeffira. He paints too, of course. And rather well at that; the former St. Martins College of Art student’s frenetic sketches and watercolours personify the obsessive intensity of his music.
A new exhibition at London’s The Strand Gallery, Creatures in Colour, gives you exclusive access to private sketchbooks and unseen watercolours; Badwan’s deeply detailed hypnotic works evoking the driving rhythm that The Horrors have become famous for. Opening tomorrow – 18th September – and running ’til the end of the month, it’s a rare chance to see rare works from an undeniable talent, it’s also a refreshing opportunity to see a musician’s art that would make it to a gallery regardless of aural exploits.
Music Matters
© Faris Badwan
The Elefant
© Faris Badwan
Cat through the eyes of a tunnel /
Marie Celeste
© Faris Badwan
Real World
© Faris Badwan
Indian Chief
© Faris Badwan
Sleep Rabbit
© Faris Badwan
