SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ANDY SHAUF – THE AFTERPARTY

ANDY SHAUF
THE AFTERPARTY
ARTS & CRAFTS

Andy Shauf is the master of the concept album. In 2016, Shauf released The Party, an account of a house party whose interpersonal dramas and sharp songwriting rendered the record an indie classic. the afterparty, released October 16, is a long-awaited follow-up, providing a stripped back reflection on its predecessor. With a combination of demos and previously unreleased tracks, the afterparty takes audiences back to the scene of the heartbreak and offers new, equally poignant perspectives.

the afterparty is a mellow and introspective EP that introduces new characters to the cast of The Party. A notable newcomer is Angela, a bright-eyed traveller whose absence from the party occupies considerable space within the narrative. “angela the traveller” is a love letter, an amalgamation of wishes and words spoken too late. With Beatlesque instrumentation and furtively longing lyrics, Shauf places us with his narrator, in that unforgiving space between acceptance and heartache.

“losing” acts as an end to the night, one that contrasts harshly with the record’s closer, “martha sways.” Whilst the last guest at the party shares a bittersweet dance with the wistful Martha, the narrator of “losing” goes home drunk to a reticent lover. Shauf sings “I’m a little bit drunker than you’d like me to be/I know you’re not sleeping/I hear it in your breathing,” rendering the life of the party considerably less enigmatic at the end of the night.

As a sequel, the afterparty offers a glimpse into its characters lives outside of the titular gathering. “the interrupter” is an admission of fallibility, whilst the sombre piano demo “my brother jeremy” speaks to insecurity and the turmoil of comparison. Rife with demos and stripped back recordings, even the songs familiar to audiences feel new.

the afterparty carries with it, a distinct imagery. It is an EP that sounds like the heels have been abandoned and the mascara is running down your face. It is the quiet return to normalcy that comes at the end of a night and the strained relationships, regret, self-loathing, and yearning left in its place. The friendship group and its characters disperse into the night to the tune of meandering pianos and swooping guitars. It is a record that speaks to anybody who has loved, lost, and toed the line between frivolity and self-destruction.

Andy Shauf is a unique talent; a songwriter who draws audiences into his world and keeps them devotedly listening. the afterparty is an EP whose landscape grows richer with every listen, cementing both The Party and itself as an indie essential.

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