by David Wilikofsky
Lately all anyone can talk about is the coronavirus. News of its steady crawl towards New York is plastered on the front page of every major news outlet. People on the subway douse themselves in antibacterial handwash. A ten pack of face masks sells for $200 on Amazon. We’re truly nearing the apocalypse. The good news is that while we’re all waiting for the end to come, Handle has provided us a soundtrack to serenade us into oblivion.
Imagine that ESG hung out in the no wave crowd, and it starts to give you an idea of the sound they’ve cultivated. With just bass, drums and keyboard, a Handle track locks into a groove and holds on for dear life. Most songs on In Threes display the band’s pop instincts, but they also never let the listener get too comfortable. Tracks like “Life’s Work” offer the straightforward pleasures of rhythm driven post punk, while others like “Coagulate” sound on the verge of collapse without ever quite falling apart. Most songs fall somewhere in the middle of these poles, anchored by an off-kilter drum and bass line but not afraid to take an unexpected turn. Taken as a whole, it’s a bracing, unpredictable listen full of danceable yet angular tunes.
Handle don’t waste a moment on this album; eleven tracks blast by in twenty five minutes. The record never outstays its welcome; once it's over I just play it again from the top. You can bet that this record will be on repeat in my apartment when I’m quarantined inside. At least I’ll be dancing while staring down my demise.