Virginia Wing - EP
(Faux Discx 2013)
"Traces of Krautrock and 90's female-fronted punk"
Virginia Wing offer listeners an interesting premise on their debut record, an untitled EP out this September on Faux Discx. It's a nostalgia-inspired crossover effort, in which the four-piece act applies the jazzy and spontaneous approach to songwriting introduced by early Krautrock bands like Kraftwerk and Can to simply constructed, female fronted pop music. I've recommended quite a lot of music on this blog that either contains traces of Kraut or 90s girl-punk, but this is the first time I've seen the two combined. The two styles fuse quite well, making Virginia Wing's first release one that's both compelling and satisfying.
Usually when listening to good experimental pop music, I have to stumble over an album's eccentricities before getting a grasp on the core of its songs; their melodies, their rhythms and most importantly their hooks. Virginia Wing's sound is accessible enough to turn my usual listening experience upside down. The band's minimal basslines and lovable, wavering vocals initially overshadow the chirping synths that brew below them. However, a few listens through the five song EP and you'll come to appreciate how strange it is. I find myself consistently coming back to the record's instrumental outlier "Rit Rit Rit", a cacophony of synths of all textures and timbres, driven by a jazzy drums that only add to the track's dizzying atmosphere. Even the wonderful pop single of the set, "Common Ground", has some trippy elements that give it a woozy, dream-like vibe. Though the brief EP isn't a full meal, it's a nice snack for fans of Grass Widow or Vivian Girls who'd like a fresh addition to their usual diet. Listen to the lead single below.
