Theo Hutchcraft and Adam Anderson built a career on moody, melodic synth-pop that stood apart from Manchester's guitar tradition.
If you want to hear what they're about, start with 'Wonderful Life' for that early synth-melancholy, then maybe 'Stay' or 'Devotion' for how they've kept that mood going.
In a city known for guitar bands, Hurts arrived with synthesizers front and center. Their breakout track 'Wonderful Life' established that synth-driven melancholy as their signature sound, one they'd return to on later singles like 'Somebody To Die For.' They've drawn comparisons to Depeche Mode for good reason, the synth-pop foundation and Hutchcraft's distinctive vocals create a specific kind of moody, melodic pop that doesn't need guitars.
Hurts formed in Manchester around 2005 as a duo, with Hutchcraft on vocals and Anderson handling synths and programming. They signed with Sony in 2009 and released their debut album 'Happiness' the following year, which included their international breakout 'Wonderful Life.' They've kept releasing music since, with albums like 'Exile' in 2013, 'Surrender' in 2015, and 'Desire' in 2017, while Hutchcraft and Anderson have remained the core throughout.
Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.
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