Hyped, praised, and scrutinized, Horsegirl endured a lot with their debut. Now, with Phonetics On and On, their second album, the trio are back, and stronger than ever. The sound here reveals a band remarkably comfortable with themselves, and one eager to push at the edges of the genres and styles they already conquered three years ago.
On first listen, Phonetics On and On seems so simple. There's no fluff here, no flash. Nora Cheng, Penelope Lowenstein, and Gigi Reece find hooks that linger in the ear, or a riff so insistent that it must be pursued. Anchored by wonderfully natural and unobtrusive production by Cate Le Bon, things remain engaging and uniquely energetic. "Rock City" is simple and effecitve in the manner of peak Unrest or Tsunami, while "In Twos" is all Young Marble Giants recast for the 21st century. Elsewhere, loopy single "2468" charms, while the marvelous "Switch Over" churns before soaring towards a vision of peak band synergy. That coda is aces, as is the down-tempo ramble of "Sport Meets Sound", a highlight here. "Well I Know You're Shy" takes that same sort of very basic approach and adds a touch of whimsy to the hook. There's something very winning about this one, and that mix of the sweet vocals and the assured, Peter Hook-y bass-line gives this one a real edge.
One would be tempted to use the term minimalist to describe the style of Horsegirl on this, album number two, but that would be a mistake. The absence of keyboards, or production flourishes doesn't indicate that Horsegirl are lacking in imagination, or ambition. A listen to Phonetics On and On reveals melodies, and patterns which seem stronger by not being cluttered. There's bounce, verve, and even heart in these grooves, but nothing which distracts from the central musical idea of each selection. Horsegirl do more with less, and so end up with a stronger record. Phonetics On and On sounds like a band is playing in the room next door, and you just happen to stumble in at the right moment as the trio finds their groove. And you're totally hooked.
Phonetics On and On by Horsegirl is out on Matador Records this week. Details via Bandcamp below as well.
More details on Horsegirl via the official website.
[Photo: Ruby Faye]