Album Review: Blonde Redhead's "Penny Sparkle"

For Fans of: Sonic Youth, Electrelane, Asobi Seksu

Kazu Makino’s hauntingly delicate voice combined with Amedeo and Simone Pace’s intricate instrumentation and back-up vocals is a combination of pure, effortless beauty in Penny Sparkle, Blonde Redhead’s latest album.

“My Plants Are Dead” is one of the many songs on Penny Sparkle that shows how the New York-based psychedelic rock band has mastered their minimalist alternative shoegaze rock style over the years. The lyrics are simple and flow effortlessly, weaving in and out between a soft drumbeat and a gossamer guitar reverb. Most of the songs on the album have this steady vibe.

“Will There Be Start” features the vocal talents of twins Amedeo and Simon. Their high-pitched voices pair well with the slow-moving background drums and sporadic guitar clangor. “Black Guitar” is another track that features the twins and Makino. The song begins with a fuzzy synth sound and the twins’ soothing voices. The almost orchestral introduction heralds in a guitar clangor and the voice of Makino, who sings throughout the rest of the track.

“I fell in love with the music like falling for someone you’ve known for a long time,” Makino said in a press release. “It was dreamy and sometimes was very stormy. At times I felt like a shepherd who was trying to herd five stallions into a yard (unsuccessfully).”

Makino’s cryptic statement about the album may be due to the fact that the band worked with Van Rivers and the Subliminal Kind, producers of popular Swedish electronic artist Fever Ray. This collaboration may be why there is a strong synth presence – almost every song incorporates the sound in the background. Also, the producer of the band’s 2007’s 23, Alan Moulder, was also on board serving as the mixer of the album.

The product of these collaborations can be best heard in the album’s opening track, “Here Sometimes,” which is a combination of a fuzzy guitar distortion and a steady electro background beat. This sound creates an unusually upbeat song, something not characteristic to Blonde Redhead. The unique sound is quite catchy and a welcome addition to the track list.

Long time fans of Blonde Redhead will be quick to appreciate that the band hasn’t strayed far from its signature style. Rather than doing anything drastic, they have managed to stay true to their sound, making it more distinct and focused by adding minor changes in instrumentation. Penny Sparkle shines, highlighting the band’s commitment to the style they developed in their 1995 self-titled album.

Originally published in the Daily Titan on October 7, 2010.