With »Phonetics On and On«, Chicago natives Horsegirl have pushed forward their sound and in the process made a record that is nostalgic and rooted in a spectrum of underground guitar music, while also having its own distinct identity. They have been turning heads on the indie-rock scene for the last few years – garnering attention with their 2022 debut »Versions of Modern Performance«. The record had a distinct flair and presented a charmingly nostalgic take on 90s era slacker rock. The laid-back and melodic vocals of singer and guitarist Nora Cheng perfectly complimenting their bass-less trio sound. This time around, they switch things up leaning into a different era altogether – drawing on underground British bands of the late 70s and at times post-punk acts like Wire. They also reference the more twee end of indie-rock. Opener »Where’d You Go« rattles through its short run time, with insistent garage rock guitars topped by the sweet vocals of Cheng and harmonies from guitarist and backing vocalist Penelope Lowenstein. Towards the end a gloriously snarling guitar part adds a bit of extra drama to the track. Elsewhere songs like »Switch Over« and »2468« lean into the droning repetitious aesthetic of the 1970s German experimental scene and bands like Neu!, utilising also a steady motorik beat. On »2468« the band brings in an almost folky violin part, which provides an excellent sonic switch up. Horsegirl have returned with an album that will make fans of their debut happy, while broadening their appeal through the wider set of influences on this record.
Kim Gordon
The Collective
Matador