STILL HOUSE PLANTS Vinyl & CDs

Review: Still House Plants' If I Don’t Make It, I Love U is a standout production into fractured soundscapes and emotional vulnerability. The London post-rock trio, comprised of vocalist Jess Hickie-Kallenbach, guitarist Finlay Clark, and drummer David Kennedy, eschews conventional song structures in favor of a collective flickering that feels both contained and alive. The album is the band's telepathic interplay, with each track serving as a vessel for abandon and experimentation. Through elongated silences and exquisitely incongruous angles, Still House Plants shine here with their free-spirited approach to punk and free improvisation. Tracks like 'More Boy' and 'M M M' reveal a bold and vivid iteration of their music, blending elements of Midwest emo, '90s slowcore, and no wave minimalism. Hickie-Kallenbach's soulful vocals add depth and intimacy, while Clark's guitar work synthesizes a diverse range of influences. With a mix of mystery and disclosure in the lyrics, If I Don’t Make It, I Love is an emotional prism where vulnerability and intimacy intersect. Still House Plants' fractured aesthetic mirrors our fractured selves, offering a contemporary take on post-punk experimentation.

Review: The latest record from the trio marks a significant milestone in their decade-long friendship, being the first album written while all members reside in the same city since 2017's Assemblages. The band's relentless rehearsal regimen, focused solely on supporting each other's growth, has resulted in noticeable developments in their individual performances. Jess' vocals have deepened, Fin's guitar work has become richer, and David's drumming has gained intensity. With production allowing for layers and elasticity, the band fully stretched their creative muscles, incorporating analogue techniques to enhance their sound. The resulting album, exudes a sense of beauty and emotional depth. Widely regarded as the band's most generous release to date, the music feels expansive and demands less, inviting listeners to immerse themselves fully and discover its intricacies with each subsequent play.