Xiu Xiu - Girl With Basket Of Fruit

8.6

Eleven albums in, Xiu Xiu once again gives proof that's one of the (if not the) most consistently inventive and stretching pop bands in the world. The songs here are as eerily weird as mumblingly touching, razor-blading Jamie Stewart's one-of-a-kind voice with Angela Seo's perplexing production.

Highlights

- All tracks contain schizophrenic instrumentation that nonetheless make perfect sense.

- As previously said: Jamie's voice is cryptic, hauntingly beautiful and disgusting, and Angela's mixing is phenomenal in shape and in space.

- There's violence, nonsensical reverie and debauchery and profound messages in every corner here.

Lowlights

- It would have been great if some tracks contained a bit more of four-on-the-floor rhythms.

- As engrossing as they are, the lyrics are frustratingly difficult to understand.

Standouts

- Pumpkin Attack On Mommy And Daddy

- Normal Love

- Scisssssssors

Country: USA

Released: February 8, 2019

Length: 36:36

Deerhunter - Why Hasn't Everything Already Disappeared?

6.5

For every alluring step Deerhunter brings up somewhere, there's another questionable one they take elsewhere; in conclusion, this is a messy album that has solid ideas but overall flaccid executions.

Highlights

- The trembling instrumentals give the record pace, nerve and personality.

- It's interesting to juxtapose the sordid lyrics with the sepia-infuced vibrance and atmosphere.

- Some songs' melodies are impossible to resist.

Lowlights

- Out of the ten ideas presented here, only half of them leave great impressions.

- There might be too much space left for instrumental interludes.

- Détournement must be Deerhunter's worst idea in their career.

Standouts

- No One's Sleeping

- What Happens To People?

- Element

Country: USA

Released: January 18, 2019

Length: 36:09