White Hot Moon is the second album from Michigan based emo indie
rockers Pity Sex and follow up to their much celebrated debut LP 2013’s
Feast Of Love. Whilst the band have only been in existence since 2011
in those five years they have amassed a pretty strong cult following,
their unique brand of fuzzy guitar emo also winning plaudits for its
mellow shoegaze feel. When it comes to forward development White Hot
Moon doesn’t exactly contain any major surprises, if you loved Feast Of
Love there is just as much of the same magic to keep you happy. Just
like before vocal duties are split between Brennan Greaves’ lethargic
defeated drawls and Britty Drakes’ more clear and angelic harmonies
whilst recurrent lyrical themes of relationship woes and heartache tug
insistently at the heart strings. The biggest notable difference is the
bands slackening of pace in terms of music, whilst they’ve never been a
band solely focused on punchy tunes the album seems more mellow
as a whole than its predecessor which had in places was slightly
reminiscent of J Mascis in its faster moments. Giving more time to the
distortion drenched guitars to unfurl the songs in a more sedate manner
allows the dual vocals come to the forefront of the record which is in
no way a bad thing. Regardless of this tempo shift the album still
moves at a pace that never strays too close to boring, it’s mellow yet
melodic structure making it a catchy and infectious listen you are
likely to return to just as regularly as the band’s debut. Whilst some
may criticise the lack of notable progression in the band’s sound what
they do they do well. Highlight’s include the lead single What Might
Soothe You with its hazy guitar and its cool inertia and the more stark
and fragile Plum which sees Britty Drake deliver the albums most
memorable moment.
Overall White Hot Moon is a solid
second album from Ann Arbor’s finest. Whilst it may not be the
revelatory re-invention some people were clamouring for it easily stands
toe to toe with the bands earlier work in terms of catchiness and
appeal. Available in a number of interesting vinyl variants through Run
For Cover records or on cd or download White Hot Moon is the perfect
companion for all your highs and lows this summer.
