Geiger Counter
One Little Indian, 2020
9/10
A duo that were formerly called Ruby Throat, as liar, flower Katiejane Garside and Chris Whittingham shift away from the neo-folk template of their former moniker for a quiet vs. loud dynamic that showcases Whittinham’s guitar prowess alongside Garside’s vocal fluctuations that can be innocently sweet just as they can be intimidating and growling with intensity.
"I Am Sundress (She Of Infinite Flowers)" starts the album with minimal instrumentation around light, breathy vocals in a very serene environment, though "My Brain Is Lit Like An Airport" takes a swift dive into a visceral alt-rock that's as nostalgic as it is gritty and moves with a thundering, anthemic quality.
Further along, "Broken Light" enter lullaby territory that ends with crashing keys, while "Even Though The Darkest Clouds" recruits spirited guitar work alongside a biting, punk filled delivery of calculated noise that you could even dance to. "Little Brown Shoe" then offers a strong beat amid vocal acrobatics and a swirling, busy display of genre mashing avant-garde rock.
Deeper into the listen, "Hole In My Hand" is a pretty tune, where angelic singing flows in a sublime haze, and "Doors Locked, Oven's Off" exits the listen with an acoustic guitar and warm rhythm where vocals are absent, but memorable songwriting and a precise execution is present.
Garside has a well documented past playing with Daisy Chainsaw in the early ‘90s and being an early pioneer of the Riot Grrrl movement, and there’s plenty of that raw energy present here, though not without ebbs of hushed, sometimes haunting song craft that’s an integral part of their captivating formula.
Travels well with: A Giant Dog- Toy; Moving Panoramas- In Two