The debut full-length effort from Mandy, Indiana, titled ‘URGH,’ arrives as a staggering monument to industrial displacement and the gut-level discord of modern existence. It is an album that feels less like a traditional musical recording and more like a captured frequency from a collapsing industrial sector. The project is led by the formidable presence of vocalist Valentine Caulfield, whose delivery (exclusively in French), acts as a rhythmic and emotional compass through the dense, often terrifying sonic architecture constructed by guitarist and producer Scott Fair. Together with the sharp, clinical textures of synth player Simon Catling and the relentless, percussive drive of drummer Alex Macdougall, the ensemble crafts a listening experience that is both physically punishing and intellectually rewarding.
The journey begins with “Sevastopol,” a track that immediately establishes the band’s fascination with unconventional recording spaces. The sound is cavernous, echoing the brutalist structures they often sought out for production, and it sets a tone of imminent dread. This transitions into “Magazine,” where Fair’s production style shines, blending the jagged edges of post-punk with the repetitive, hypnotic pulse of dance music. Caulfield’s voice on this track is not merely a vehicle for lyrics but a structural element of the noise itself, cutting through the electronic haze with commanding authority.
As the record unfolds, “try saying” offers a momentary shift in focus, leaning into a more atmospheric tension that showcases Catling’s ability to manipulate synthesis into something that feels almost organic yet deeply unsettling. This leads into the mathematical precision of “Dodecahedron,” a piece where Macdougall’s drumming provides a skeletal, driving force that pushes the boundaries of typical rock structures. The band excels at this kind of rhythmic entrapment, making the listener feel the weight of the machines they are simulating.
The midpoint of the album, “A Brighter Tomorrow,” serves as a masterstroke of irony. Far from being an optimistic anthem, it is a suffocating exercise in noise and release, proving that the band’s greatest strength lies in their ability to manipulate dynamics to create a sense of claustrophobia. This is followed by the jagged, frantic energy of “Life Hex” and the pulsing, monochromatic drive of “ist halt so,” both of which demonstrate the group’s mastery over the intersection of club culture and industrial erosion.
One of the most striking moments on the release is “Sicko!,” which features a guest appearance by billy woods. The collaboration feels entirely natural, as woods’ gravelly flow intersects with the band’s chaotic backdrop to create a portrait of urban paranoia. This leads into the more avant-garde stretches of “Cursive,” where the instrumentation becomes increasingly abstract, before the album reaches its finality with “I’ll Ask Her.” The closing track leaves the listener in a state of unresolved tension, a fitting end for a record that refuses to offer easy answers or comfortable resolutions. Mandy, Indiana has produced a work that is profoundly original, a sonic document that captures the sound of the world grinding its teeth.
Find out more by visiting: Bandcamp | Sacred Bones Records
