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Apr 09, 2018 Issue #63 - Courtney Barnett By Bekki Bemrose

For the second time around Holy Fuck founding member Brian Borcherdt trades the synthesized jagged thump of his main gig for the dusty glare of his side-project, Dusted. And yet again the lo-fi world of drum machines, scuzzy guitars, and lightly distorted vocals are as surprising as they are captivating.

Fans of Holy Fuck may be surprised by the lack of pummeling electro-punk apparent on Blackout Summer, but its subtler charms prove hard to resist. The crestfallen opener “Seasons” is saturated by quietly wrought, dejected musings. Yet, as the track builds, and the dust dissipates, a light haziness remains when the gut-punch cries of “you’re gonna lose me” arrive and provide a thoroughly winding experience. Equally, album-highlight “Dead Eyes” is founded on a drum machine beat and dappled with electronic blips, fortifying heavy-hearted sentiments that are delivered with soaring resistance.

Elsewhere, “Cut Corners” has a lovely fuzzy quality, the tub-thumping beat of “All I Am” offers varied pace and tone, and the distortion of “Outline of a Wolf” fails to quell a soaring chorus that punches through the gnarly racket defiantly.

The layer of grime that settles on Blackout Summer‘s surface merely highlights the strength of feeling within and a bright storm that brews beneath. It’s a work of finely executed ambience and understated, yet emotionally resonant, songwriting. (www.totallydusted.co)

Author rating: 7/10