10 tracks · 40 min
Ladyhawke's self-titled debut album was a slick update of '80s pop and rock, done with plenty of brains and infused with the heart and soul of Pip Brown (aka Ladyhawke). On the long-awaited follow-up, Anxiety, she again works with producer Pascal Gabriel and the two concoct a sound that is less dreamy and far less '80s-influenced. This time the songs have a much more '90s-inspired approach. All ten of the songs have a tight, focused feel that is punchy and direct, making everything pounce out the speakers and right into the listener's brain. The tracks have the sultry burn of prime Garbage ("The Quick & the Dead"), they have dramatic twists and turns like Pulp ("Sunday Drive"), they kick like Elastica or Sleeper ("Vaccine," "Gone Gone Gone"), and they generally sound amazing. There's even a track that sounds like some kind of insane hybrid of the Breeders and Katy Perry ("Vanity") that shows just how much pop and power there is on Anxiety. From the powerhouse thump of the rhythm section and the tightly controlled growl of the guitars to the well-placed and never standard synths, the sound of the album is impressive. Brown and Gabriel build such a strong musical framework that it co…
