Horsegirl won’t go anywhere unless they go together. The band, consisting of Penelope Lowenstein (she/her), Nora Cheng (she/her), and Gigi Reece (they/them), are devoted to making the band a collective within a collective. The Chicago grunge outfits’ first full-length release Versions of Modern Performance (via Matador Records), since signing with the label last spring is a demonstration of that comradery.
In a joint statement posted to their Bandcamp, the trio shared the creative inspiration behind the project with fans. “We made [this album] knowing so fully what we were trying to do. We would never pursue something if one person wasn’t feeling good about it. But also, if someone thought something was good, chances are we all thought it was good,” wrote the band.
Versions is indie rock and post-punk at its most suffocating, with swaying guitars, echoing synths and layered vocals that weigh on you like moving boxes braced against your chest. The opener “Anti-Glory,” produced by John Agnello, is as sunny as post-punk can get, with infectious guitars, wandering synths, grooving bass, and sharp vocal lines that compel you to dance.
The closer “Billy,” also produced by John Agnello, has been one of the more popular singles in the lead-up to the record’s release. The gang sings about the titular downtrodden character. The guitar starts slow then speeds up seamlessly towards the end of the track, with vocals as powerful as something from Brittney Howard’s 2019 album Jamie or perhaps a full Broadway cast recording of Hair.
The deep cuts available for free listen are equally as compelling. “Dirtbag Transformation (Still Dirty)” comes in with a killer chorus where the record’s sentiments are clear as they sing, “I am scared to death of everything I have ever known,” and yet, they’re still dancing.
The other deep cut is “World of Pots and Pans” which can only be described as post-punk Chris Garneau-ish shimmering symbols and a vibe reminiscent of beach day where it starts to rain, but your worry falls away when you remember you’re already surrounded by water. The repeated line of “Emma was my new best friend” is all painful nostalgia, looking back on a day that is only perfect when you remember how little you knew back then.
The full twelve tracks can be heard when you buy the album via digital download, CD and vinyl here via Bandcamp. Horsegirl is also currently touring the US and Canada, tickets can be found here via their official website.
Want more of Horsegirl? Be sure to connect with the band on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
