My newest girl-crush are US trio Vivian Girls, whose self-titled 2008 debut album blends shoegaze, surf punk, lo-fi guitar fuzziness and vocal harmonies that The Go Gos would be proud of. You may have seen them on their recent UK tour with British band Male Bonding (and if you have, let it be known that I am extremely jealous).
The album has a definite Wall of Sound feel to it, partly accomplished by the inclusion of Tim Fiore on tambourine* for most of the record, but also through the detached iciness of the vocals. “We know what no one else knows,” sing the trio in unison on ‘Tell the World’, and you get the impression that they genuinely do. Other stand-out moments are the chaotic and caffeinated ‘No’ and ‘All the Time’ and the post-breakup gloominess of ‘Never See Me Again’.
Vivian Girls’ second album, ‘Everything Goes Wrong’ is out September 9th. You can listen to a couple of its tracks on their myspace and hear for yourself why I’m kicking up a fuss.
Speaking of kicking up a fuss, I’m also rather excited about the forthcoming second album from Norwich-based Violet Violet, ‘The city is full of beasts’. The band (previously a three-piece) recently re-launched as a two-piece in manner of Simon and Garfunkel or Sonny and Cher, only if either of these had been a powerhouse of riot grrrl-angst. Be sure to catch them at the Norwich Arts Centre on October 17 th when they support TinMan, especially if you like your music intelligent, spiky, angry and fun (and somehow all at the same time!).
There has been a lot of suggestion from media types (especially since the Mercury Prize nominees were announced) that 2009 is ‘the year of the Female Artist’. And it does look like they kind of have a point.
(*I’m well aware, of course, that there was more to Spector and his legendary Wall than tambourines. But damn if they’re not a significant feature of pretty much every song from that genre.)
- Kate
Check out these:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_fcs3ZlD7Y&feature=related (Tell the World)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgk-uzPFuzo&feature=related (All The Time)
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