Phonetics on and On

Chicago’s Horsegirl certainly aren’t the first group to find inspiration within the quiet corners of The Velvet Underground’s third album. But much like The Strokes’ did with the scuzzy punk sounds of New York’s Lower East Side in the 70s on their 2001 debut, the Chicago trio refashion their tasteful selected source material so artfully (Young Marble Giants, The Raincoats and The Feelies are among the vintage threads hanging in the band’s closet), while adding enough of their own seemingly effortless cool, that it’s near impossible to fault.

Produced by Cate Le Bon, second album Phonetics On and On turns down the alt-rock static of their 2022’s debut, revealing more sparse and precise lines. Nora Cheng and Penelope Lowenstein’s vocals intertwine on songs of loneliness that come from a place of poignancy rather than aloofness.

There’s palpable romantic yearning — and more than a hint of Power, Corruption & Lies era New Order — in “Switch Over”; “Well I Know You’re Shy” is a pure giddy rush of jangling guitars and melodic sweetness; while “2468” is a pop song so perfect it would sound equally as brilliant performed at CBGBs as it would on Sesame Street.