SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: HORSEGIRL – PHONETICS ON AND ON

HORSEGIRL
PHONETICS ON AND ON
MATADOR RECORDS

Horsegirl’s highly-anticipated second album, Phonetics On and On, is a massive hit. It is an innovative exploration in minimalism. Taking a softer and quieter approach results in mesmerizingly catchy and fun pop songs with spellbinding guitar tones and riffs, beautifully-melodic vocal harmonies, and bright textures.

Main standouts “2468” and “Switch Over” are lighthearted, jangly ear candy that will undoubtedly make listeners sway back and forth to the rhythm. Both songs demonstrate that repetition in your lyrics is not always a bad thing. The lyrics are charmingly infectious, the vocal harmonies are breathtakingly enchanting, and the time signatures shift in intriguing ways. There is a sort of lovely playfulness within the instrumentation that is constantly evolving, too. Each song contains several moments instrumentally that are bound to get stuck in your head, especially the outro of “2468” and the 90s soft rock-inspired guitar riffs of “Switch Over”. Lastly, the guitar tones on both songs are absolutely entrancing.

“In Twos”, one of the record’s slowest and most minimalistic songs, is hauntingly sorrowful. It manages to do so much atmospherically with limited instrumentation. The comforting folksy tune “Julie” is dreamily pensive and melancholic. A peaceful soundscape backs Penelope Lowenstein’s charmingly gentle vocals.

The chemistry between band members Nora Cheng, Penelope Lowenstein, and Gigi Reece is on full display on this record, notably in “Rock City” and “Switch Over”, with their endearing energy, impressive interplay in the instrumentation, and stunning vocal harmonies.

Phonetics On and On is nothing like Horsegirl’s debut album, Versions Of Modern Performance. Their debut is gritty, harsh, noisy, and aggressive and features heavily distorted guitars. Some brief moments on this new record maintain that edge. Examples include the explosively clanky guitar solo of “Where’d You Go?” and the wildly erratic finale of “Information Content”, which features clashing, somewhat out-of-control drums and kinetically fierce guitar licks. However, for the most part Phonetics On and On is its own unique thing.

Overall, Horsegirl delivers a whole record full of bangers. Plus, it is a wonderful evolution from the band as their new sound is just as magnificent as their old sound.

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