by Giliann Karon (@whoreby_parker)
From the spellbinding tongue and vast array of gritty textures that intentionally clash, it’s impossible to pin Mandy, Indiana down. “Experimental” is too broad of a moniker, but a subgenre is too narrow to account for their sprawling portfolio of distortions and drones. Rather than reaching towards opposite ends of a single spectrum, the Manchester quartet abandons conventions altogether, including the recording process itself, which occurred in “caves, crypts, and shopping malls.”
Despite the soothing rainfall on the opener “Love Theme (4K VHS),” Mandy, Indiana is not interested in familiarity or solace on their chilling debut i’ve seen a way. The band blends icy synths with singer Valentine Caulfield’s native Francophone growl to guide listeners through suffocating tunnels and limitless caverns.
Eerieness quickly sets in on “Drag [Crashed],” as cryptic lyrics gallop between heavy industrial drones. The Anglophone listener may not immediately register that Caulfield is hissing about overt misogyny. Still, the anxiety is nevertheless palpable and even aided by the communication breakdown. Caulfield knows most people won’t understand what she’s saying, which makes her work even more soul-baring. “I use the sonorities of French; the natural poetics of the pronunciation to bring rhythm into the way I use words,” she explained in a press release.
Each time you think you’ve boxed Mandy, Indiana in, they pull something new out of their endless bag of tricks from the jumpy drums on “Pinking Shears” or the mere existence of “(ノω)ノ :。・:*:・゚’★,。・:*:♪・゚’☆ (Crystal Aura Redux)”. Their goal is to discomfort and disrupt with just enough freedom for listeners to draw their own conclusions. Despite what the name suggests, “Peach Fuzz” is the opposite of warmth and ease. Caulfield’s hiss translates to “It’s not a revolt, it’s a revolution / They are the winners and we are the losers. / We are told yes, we are told no / They take us for idiots / We go around in circles.” The closing track “Sensitivity Training” utilizes militaristic drums and aggressive downbeats that follow a triumphant narrative arc.
The album is urgent and forward-thinking, while its contemporary politics keep it rooted in reality. The band has something to say, but they’ll take their sweet time adorning all the finishing touches.