by Kris Handel
This split release is the work of Algae Dust and Hennen, otherwise known as Alison Setili (Frankie Valet) and Hannah Rainey (Shady Bug), respectively, showing off a different side from both of these St. Louis artists. The songs are full of haunting and sprightly bedroom pop that will find wide appeal from its two rather distinct offerings and stylistic differences. The Algae Dust half of this release is filled with stormy and dark bedroom pop that has roots in a dance-y and darker post-punk sensibility that would fit in the middle of the heyday of releases by a label like Sarah or Factory Records. Hennen treads in more of a tangled punk manner with an occasional touch of R&B influence and personal lyrics that drives everything creakily forward.
“Passing Through” introduces Algae Dust’s side with a walking bass-line and Setili’s vocals cloudy and in the distance as slowly paced guitar and keys alternate between twinkling and hums. There is a haunting allure throughout the song that sticks with the listener and is enhanced by her distance, sparse lyricism, and fade out of raindrops. “Grasp” is a force of shuffling drums and chording almost church-like keyboard swells with Setili’s vocals appearing like clouds drifting around a gray sky. Her way of creating affecting moods suits her songwriting approach extremely well while the subtle tempo shifts and flow add extra appeal.
“Zero Expectations” plies its trade with tangled webs of distorted guitar over tentative keyboard interjections as Rainey’s voice poignantly breaks and slides around the melody. Rainey interjects questioning and abstract lyrics like “I did everything I was supposed to do/Checked it all off of my list/In my heart, and in my eyes and in my nose I was good/What I know/I noticed this…” which she later plays with to a crushing end of the song. “The Hardest” is a punky charge with rolling drum fills and slow guitar, as keys build up while Rainey’s shifting instrumentation and vocals jerk along. Rainey deftly executes her slanted and Jenga-like wobble and looseness in her songwriting, which is suitably playful and enticing.
Though Algae Dust and Hennen follow different musical paths each side has produced a musical treasure chest worth digging through. The contrasts make for a completely engaging release. These two musicians challenge themselves and find new sounds and methods of expression to explore that bares a lot of new and intriguing metaphorical fruit. Those that are familiar with the other bands the musicians represent might be jarred at first by what is on display, but the creativity that abounds will be extremely welcomed. Setili and Rainey show another side of themselves as artists here and what they deliver brings much to cherish and enjoy over and over again.