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Feb 12, 2025 Web Exclusive By Mark Moody

Horsegirl’s sophomore album makes for a lovely little Valentine’s Day package. Arriving, as noted, on February 14th, Phonetics On and On relies little on the atonal passages explored on the trio’s debut. With Cate Le Bon on hand for production duties, the record is stripped down to its essence—sweetly scented, dry as dust. Quiet and catchy echoes of UK legends Buzzcocks and The Undertones reside here, minus the angst. More cohesive and less complex than its predecessor, the songs hang with each other easily, but subtle flourishes on each track provide the variety needed to hold the listener’s attention.

The playful patty-cake rhythms and violin on “2468” keep the song merrily rolling along. While Gigi Reece’s tippy-tap drum work and the high plains melodic drift of “Frontrunner” make that song a winner. The layered or call and response vocals of Penelope Lowenstein and Nora Cheng remain but in simpler terms. Recalling the more childlike observations of The Velvet Underground, lines such as “If you listen to me, you’ll know I want to say hi” (“Well I Know You’re Shy”) or “When there’s nothing to do, I’ll think of you” (“Julie”), share the sentimentality of the Velvet’s “I’m Sticking With You.”

For all its simplicity, Phonetics On and On is an understated and mature triumph. Never shy to give a tip of their collective hat to their forbears, the album benefits from what came before but Horsegirl’s path is distinctively their own. The “da, da, da” choruses of “Sport Meets Sound” and “chug and ping” rhythms of “Rock City” are endearingly unique. Coming early in the year, this one’s scruffy charm feels like it will age particularly well. (www.horsegirlmusic.com)

Author rating: 8/10