Rock / Experimental Rock
6/10
When I listened to the first track on Gang Gang Dance’s newest album, Saint Dymphna, I thought my CD player was malfunctioning. “Bebey” starts off with an increasingly high-pitched spinning noise that dissipates into flat, succinct electro-beats. “First Communion”, however, is a welcome remedy to the initial disappointment of the opener. The track slowly drags you into a delicious world filled with breathy, frantic vocals, lyrics like, “Prisms have kissed my lids / Sea salt has rubbed on my hips”, and a myriad of cleverly layered sounds.
The group, undoubtedly due to their experimental genre, lacks consistency: some songs are filled with sharp beats, others contain broken vocals, “Princes” even features a rapper. Gang Gang Dance’s best songs are ones like “First Communion” that have, as simple as it sounds, unwavering melodies full of intricate depth. Still, the Manhattan-based band too often attempts to wow you with its ability to arbitrarily throw in piercing beats that clash uncomfortably with one another. Are the dreamy, absorbing gems like “House Jam” really worth weeding out the all of the tiresome tracks? I can’t quite decide. Ultimately, Saint Dymphna leaves a highly unusual impression that won’t quickly leave your memory, and for that reason alone it may be worth a few listens.
I enjoyed the pace of the tracks, and beats in Saint Dymphna. Despite the chaotic sequences of princes, its melodies flowed with colorful and unique notes. If not for the melodies, Lizzi’s voice makes this album worth listening to alone.