Girlpool are a girl-power duo who manage to serve up hard-hitting unapologetic femininity with equal amounts of hope and anxiety at the same time. Within this gorgeous golden era of girl grunge, the duo, Harmony Tividad and Cleo Tucker, have managed to master a genre of their own that harbours a gentle intensity with ruthless and real lyricism all wrapped up in a magnificent rumble of guitar, bass and drums.

It must be noted: the addition of drums is new to the duo on their latest album Powerplant. Previously, they had only existed as a guitar/bassist coupling that helped to carve their sterling reputation on the indie-pop scene. The simplicity of their previous set up worked so well it was almost a case of “if it ain’t brok, don’t fix it”, however the sound presented was ruthless, raw and speckled with a whole lot more anger. Powerplant, however, has somehow incorporated drums to create a more subtle and vulnerable sound.

The album opens with ‘123’, the lead single, within seconds the new addition of drums are introduced. Yet they sit gracefully under the guitar and bass in a mix that only furthers the restraint of the track as a whole. Even with the addition of percussion, musically this track feels stripped back. Tividad and Tucker’s vocals are historically nervous, pitching in at high harmonies that leave you reeling and sympathetic all at once. ‘123’ is a fantastic opener for the duo proving they haven’t lost what has made them succesful in the past. “1,2,3 will you list it off to me, how you’re sorry you feel weird, in a jubilation dream”, the lyrics are relatable to almost anyone who has been messed about by a romantic interest. They are sung with such simplicity and disdain that the frustration is instantly shared.

‘Fast Dust’ also benefits from this angsty tenderness commission. The track is short, coming in at only 2:02 minutes yet maintains a stance as a striking interlude: “Oh today, she’s somewhere today. She said, I wanna make fast dust, something I’ve never thought of”. While swelling and nostalgic guitars beam, the lyricism of this track reveals a lot about the duo’s writing process: although it presents itself as vulnerable and inward, in fact the themes appear to rally around observation. This is repeated across the album, on ‘It Gets More Blue’: “I’m watching from the bodegas on the street”, and ‘Kiss and Burn’: “I watched you pick up footsteps from the dirt”. There is something romantically adolescent about this concept, it picks out the commonalities in every-day life that affect our emotional and moral decisions and turns them into a poetic commentary that is overwhelmingly relatable.

What appears to be missing on Powerplant is the duo’s punk rock energy that was so brutally delivered on their debut EP. There is next to no shouting here, or white-noise laden guitars, or crass and humorous lyrics. Instead, Tividad and Tucker have kept their sound bordering on slacker-rock. It is muted and mellow, maintaining its straight forwardness in a delicate surrender. If that is what you are looking for, it can be found lurking halfway in ‘Static Somewhere’, She Goes By’ and ‘Corner Store’, as a reminiscing ode to their past animosities.

Honest, straightforward, and heartwrechingly tender, Girlpool have created a fast-paced piece of art that is brimming with girl-power and apprehension to be enjoyed by everyone. Their rhythmic uneasiness makes Powerplant an album that can be enjoyed in a mellow or kick-ass kind of way. Not only have the duo managed to make the addition of drums impact positively on their overall sound, It fathoms an awkwardness with musical technicalities that bring out nostalgia and romanticism all at once.
Sian Blewitt

Website: girlpoolmusic.com
Facebook: facebook.com/GIRLPOOOL
Twitter: twitter.com/girlpoolband