I’m happy Blonde Redhead has new material out. They haven’t lost their sound.

Blonde Redhead is possibly characterized by weird beats, percussive and textured softly sung female vocals, quirky guitar parts, and plenty of depth and atmosphere. Heavy use of effects, and sharp thoughtful sensibilities. Blonde Redhead have been a band since 1993. 21 years in, they’ve released a new disc ‘Barragan’.

Understated, atmospheric, crawling with gongs, harpsichord, rhythmic softly sung vocals (Kazu Makino). Sometimes stripped down like the XX. Reverb’d vocals creating atmosphere. One of the few times I’ve heard flanged bass used well. Understated drums. The band is filled out by twin brothers Amadeo and Simone Pace.

I am a bit salty that they’re skipping Columbus on their current tour (going from Pittsburg to Detroit).

Immensely listenable, similar at times to Metric’s ‘Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?’. Hints of Doves and The Dears. At times reminiscent of Katie Melua’s ‘Secret Symphony’.

The disc starts promisingly strong, almost dancey, and eminently now, but ends more ambient, minimalist, almost faded. It sadly starts well, and ends roughly. There’s certainly some very strong singles, but also sadly it feels like there’s filler on the record as well. Still, Blonde Redhead as a rule is an eminently listenable band, and you won’t not be entertained. You may however not say be at the peak of ecstasy throughout the entire listening session. And this also seems like the kind of record you can’t really listen to start to finish, unless you’re in the right mood. Understated, chill, this is the soundtrack to a rapidly winding down night. For some people, that’ll be problematic, for others it’ll fit just fine. Use the record correctly and you’ll find it works great.

I don’t mean to say this is a bad record. At the end of ‘No More Honey’ there’s a bit of ambient noise reminiscent of Kid A. (Consequently the album was recorded and mixed by Drew Brown, who has also worked with Radiohead). But ‘Mind to be Had’, Track 7, clocks in at 8 minutes 47 seconds. The same riff the entire song. This is where they lose me. The rest of the album plays like some of the weirder tracks on Radiohead’s ‘King of Limbs’. And actually, The Books (another band Drew Brown has worked with).

3.5/5