Goat Girl - On All Fours Review
Though On All Fours is a little less rough around the edges than their previous feat, it demonstrates the exploratory and high-spirited nature of the band’s essence.
Following a critically acclaimed debut, Goat Girl have managed to put out an album that shapes up. It’s a hard feat for anyone, let alone a band who have had multiple spanners thrown in the works. An unforeseeable pandemic, losing their bassist, and a member receiving a cancer diagnosis might have stunted any other band’s growth, but on On All Fours, Goat Girl deliver an excellent follow-up record that cements their position in the post-punk scene.
Setting the overall mood of the album is the slow and hypnotic ‘Pest’, with its strung-out bassline and undulating synth. Bleeding into a preppy but biting breakdown, the track ends and then we are in a different world altogether on ‘Badibaba’, which is equal parts chaotic and tuneful.
‘Jazz (In The Supermarket)’ is the most interesting song on the album. A playful take on nu-wave jazz, this track implements a long intro packed with a plethora of instruments to craft a catchy melody. It’s only at the almost three-minute mark that this number begins to plateau, leading us through to the hazy outro. Goat Girl are unafraid to toy with that which is outside the realm of their usual style, further made clear on ‘Sad Cowboy’. Permeated by synth and a cool guitar riff, this track incorporates elements of dance towards the end, which is a pleasant yet surprising direction.
In true Goat Girl fashion, there are plenty of tracks on On All Fours which ascertain the group’s quirky and experimental sonic approach. My favourite is ‘Closing In’ with its adoption of a light, almost surf pop style that retains its funky characteristics. Throughout the album, lead vocalist Lottie Cream carries conversational yet dulcet vocals - her sweetest delivery is probably on tell-all track ‘Anxiety Feels’.
The backend of the album doesn’t taper off, as later tracks usually do. In fact, I find that the album gets stronger and stronger with each song. Goat Girl are a band who know who they are and are unashamedly confident in it. From the grungy, spooky ‘They Bite On You’, through to the vast, sustained landscape of closer track ‘A-Men’, there’s something for even the most skeptical listener to enjoy.
Though On All Fours is a little less rough around the edges than their previous feat, it demonstrates the exploratory and high-spirited nature of the band’s essence.