Formed in Chicago, Horsegirl made a striking debut with Versions of Modern Performance in 2022, when its members were still teenagers. Avoiding any hint of the second-album blues, Nora Cheng (guitar, vocals), Penelope Lowenstein (guitar, vocals) and Gigi Reece (drums) refine their style without losing that arresting freshness on Phonetics On and On. Jangly electric guitars and playful, conversational voices continue to set the tone, tinted by a poppier vibe, thanks in part to the clean production of Cate Le Bon, an idiosyncratic performer in her own right whose other producing credits include Wilco and Deerhunter.
These inventive Velvet Underground offspring specialize in tunes that evoke compelling everyday scenes, leaving out enough to let the listener fill in the blanks according to taste. “In Twos” gently laments, “Every good thing that I find I lose,” and “Information Content” cheerfully insists, “It’s never dull when I’m alone.” While the casual energy of “I Can’t Stand to See You” might set toes tapping, it’s also an unsettling breakup song, observing, “We’ll shake hands goodbye now / It’s all that we can do.” Phonetics On and On is packed with such sneaky, understated moments, lingering in the mind long after this addictive record ends.
