★★★☆
Los Angeles-based Warpaint make bold new strides towards unexplored territory on their third albumHeads Up, showing a surprising new side to their sound while retaining their signature psychedelic infused approach to makin’ art.
Long renowned for their dreamy soundscapes and haunting vocal performances, the band’s magnetism makes for a thrilling listen.
‘Whiteout’ opens the album with a pulsating beat, as vocalists Theresa Wayman and Emily Kokal sing passionately and in unison. Spanning six glorious minutes, the track ‘So Good’ sets the benchmark for the whole record, completely changing direction at the halfway point to become a much bigger and bolder song.
The aptly named ‘New Song’ is an entirely different sound for the band, with its pop sensibilities rising straight to the forefront. The chorus is daring and completely arresting as they bring a newfound sense of vibrancy to the tune, while ‘Dre’ is similarly a wonderfully slow burning ambient number. The album ends on a quieter note with ‘Today Dear’, showing the band at their most exposed.
Warpaint are truly masters of their craft, with their songs carefully constructed to fully immerse their audience in the listening experience.
Warpaint’sHeads Upis out now and available via Remote Control.
