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Horsegirl: Phonetics On and On review – a minimalist indiepop masterpiece
With Cate Le Bon as producer, the Chicago indie trio’s second album is a quantum leap, full of poignant restraint and lyrical clarity
Produced by Cate Le Bon, Phonetics On and On prunes away the clatter and finds new power in restraint. With sonic austerity comes a newfound lyrical clarity; sweet songs of loneliness, displacement and confusion that find lucidity in simplicity – like Frontrunner’s refrain of “In the morning when you’re sleeping / I can’t wait” – sung in knowingly deadpan, subtle voices. 2468 is perfect minimalist pop, its giddy sharp edges piercing the subconscious like a barb; the glint of joy behind the dry, austere dispassion of Lowenstein’s vocal is exquisite, best heard on Well I Know You’re Shy; I Can’t Stand to See You is almost Strokes-esque in its concision, its embarrassment of hooks and pop flourishes.
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