Treat Her Strangely
Self-Released, 2022
9/10
An outfit spearheaded by Allan (of Starlight Mints fame) and Barb Vest, as doubleVee they bring a very diverse and atypical version of indie-rock that welcomes brass and strings to these 9 tracks.
“When Dawn Comes Tonight” pairs thumping drums with fluid bass lines, as a playful, even quirky version of indie-rock unfolds with both grit and melody, and “The Fever Is You” follows with bright brass, where a soulful quality enters the meticulous and busy climate.
In the middle, the acoustic strumming of “Walk Away” is met with strategic brass amid the cinematic demeanor, while “Your Love Is It Real?” uses piano with much grace, and embraces strings via a calm chamber rock sort of way.
The final two tracks, “Matador Bell” and “The Question’s Closed”, are just as creative as the rest of the album, where the former makes great use of soaring backing vocals, cozy brass and firm drums, and the latter moves at a quick pace of dreamy, even ‘80s influenced rock.
Brent Williams handles violin and viola, Christi Wans plays trumpet and piccolo and Kevin Webb contributes trombone on the affair. Together, along with the Vest’s avant-garde vision, Treat Her Strangely is indeed unorthodox and in all the best ways.
Travels well with: Charming Disaster- Our Lady Of Radium; Cinema Cinema- CCXMDII