Warpaint’s self-titled second album is one of the most anticipated releases of early 2014, and since it has more than a bit of electronic content it easily qualifies for review in these pages. It’s pretty experimental, as you might expect from a record with Nigel Godrich and Flood at the production desk, and there are a number of intriguing musical twists and turns as the quartet plots their course. This is definitely a slow burning record, one you need to spend some time with, but when you do the subtleties and grace of songs like ‘Drive’ and the majestic ‘Biggy’ become clear. The biggest surprise is ‘Disco/Very’, which is a gritty production more in the realms of DFA, while ‘Love Is To Die’ captures the combination of grace and grit that runs through the album. Just occasionally the vocals feel emotionally detached, especially when the music gets more brooding, but when the chemistry between the four clicks the intensity is evident. This is definitely an album for the late hours, when Warpaint’s full potential can be properly witnessed.
5 out of 5
Reviewed By Ben Hogwood
