It’s rare to see a band play and instantly look up to them. Warpaint is the first band that has ever made me feel like that, and I had only known one song at the time. Composed of Theresa Wayman, Emily Kokal, Jenny Lee Lindberg, and Stella Mozgawa, this Los Angeles-based indie rock band took a darker yet groovier turn for their second self-titled LP. When most bands and artists create mellow music that makes you want to curl up in your bed and stare aimlessly at the ceiling for the whole day, these girls stimulate an uncontrollable urge to dance instead. Although at first listen the record presents itself as one shade, the different layers expose after each listen.
The record shows Warpaint’s fluidity as musicians. As Mozgawa’s more-than-conventional drum beats partly soars the band’s reputation, we are also soaked in Lindberg’s frustratingly thick intertwining bass lines that sustain the flow of the songs, and the play with vocals shows Wayman’s and Kokal’s maturity as they treat their voices more as another instrument. This dynamic is consistent throughout the record, especially in the irritatingly groovy “Disco//very” and delicate “Hi”. Minimalism seems to be a natural progression for them as they add in more atmospheric elements; replacing the second guitar with synths but still using subtle glimmering guitar hooks. Knowing Wayman’s involvement with electronic musician James Blake, it’s almost obvious that there must have been at least the tiniest bit of influence. But as a result, it’s a sound that seems to be inevitable for the band.
At first listen, Warpaint’s never-ending bland songs made the record feel disappointing. It took the girls a long drive to Toronto to show me how and why this record should be appreciated. As their live performance breaks down and emphasizes each hidden layer, their new dynamic is something I’ve come to genuinely enjoy. Finding these hidden grooves has been a journey in itself, and this might be taken as evidence of their talent in songwriting or lack-thereof, though I choose the latter.
