Phonetics On And On. Horsegirl

Horsegirl is a New York-via-Chicago trio of best friends Nora Cheng, Penelope Lowenstein, and Gigi Reece. The trio formed in 2019 and released its first EP 'Horsegirl: Ballroom Dance Scene et cetera' one year later, followed by debut LP 'Versions of Modern Performance' in 2022. We're three years later and Phonetic On And On is upon us.

I have missed the two previous efforts of Horsegirl. Single 'Switch Over' was my introduction to the band. It made me curious to hear more and what I'm hearing is leaving me somewhat undecided but with an inclination towards the favourable. Phonetics On And On is a wobbly record. Ramshackle indie rock that can go either way. The band Magnapop for example was totally unlistenable to me. Horsegirl is and reminds me faintly of bands like The Beths and Wet Leg, except for that wobbly demeanour in singing and musicianship.

The basis of this band is sparse use of drums, bass and guitar, even of the voice(s). Just listen to 'In Twos', there's even a cello involved, playing the same note over and over. When all is said and done very little happens here, without giving the impression that something will at some point. The musicians appear to have just learned to play their instruments (it is rather confusing that in the song '2468' Horsegirl is singing 'In Twos' a hundred times) while I hear this obviously is not true. It's the impression they give.

This may be the case, fact is that the three Horsegirls know how to write a song and have the skills to arrange them as well, even in keeping things bare. In how far producer Cate le Bon played a role here, I can't tell. That depends on her approach to producing. The band itself stated that it strove to keep things bare and not fill songs with distorted guitars. As I wrote, I can't compare, but fact is that the emptiness in several songs works quite well. In that not unlike The Velvet Underground on its eponymous album. 'Julie' is a good example of this. 'Pale Blue Eyes' or 'Jesus' are songs I'm thinking of here. The switch to single 'Switch Over' and in comes 'What Goes On'. Point proven.

Taking the album as a whole I'm still not totally convinced but far more that after the first listening session. Horsegirl can thank 'Switch Over' for me wanting to listen more often, as it is the song that drew me into Phonetics On And On. I'm glad I did, as things seem to come out alright.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order Phonetics On And On here:

https://thisishorsegirl.bandcamp.com/album/phonetics-on-and-on