6 / 10
Like Micachu on these shores, Texan multi-instrumentalist (with the emphasis on ‘mentalist’) Annie Clark deftly weaves disparate influences into a basket brimming with pop joy. Her classy, silky vocals, like a prog-pop Judy Garland, are a guiding light through mazes of Of Montreal-ish synth-weirdness and Flaming Lips-esque odysseys. Though less immediate than debut ‘Marry Me’, ‘Actor’ is full of charm, picking its way through disorienting rhythm changes and peculiar progressions. ‘Actor Out Of Work’ splices psychotic riffage and ’40s-soundtrack chorales, while ‘Laughing With A Mouth Of Blood’ is redolent of Deerhunter backed with Van Dyke Parks-style strings. A captivating performance.
Emily Mackay
8.5
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