Photo by Ruby Faye

With their highly anticipated sophomore effort, Phonetics On and On, it’s shaping up as Horsegirl removing themselves from the cantankerous effects of their 2022 breakthrough debut, Versions of Modern Performance, with just as much to consider of what makes a noise. Just look to the recent — and one of the year’s best — song in the repetitious-focused spin of “2468” and how it heard the Chicago trio experimenting with perpetual motion while parring back amperage in their sound. “Julie”, the album’s latest preview and centerpiece, goes even further with the deconstructing mechanics of the inner mind, and in turn, ear. The softs thoughts of Penelope Lowenstein on the listen’s titular character thump against her cranium to ta beat of low current electrical plucks. Greater brainwaves begin connecting the dots, with realization coming fully into view across a blanket of droning synths and casted harmonies from her ‘mates. “I have so many mistakes to make with you / I want them, too.” In this case, noise is the desire that has a way of creeping up on you before it becomes so loud inside, it’s unavoidable.

Directed by:  Daphna Awadish Golan

Horsegirl’s Phonetics On and On will be released February 14th on Matador Records.