The guitar pop of the Histrioniks have much in common with the Garage Rock Revival movement. Like a lot of other bands with echoing fuzz guitar leads and tambourine (like the Cynics and the Ugly Beats) they can be traced down to the late sixties. Now add to this mix the Lene Lovich-like vocals of Cat Levy. What comes out isn’t as retro sounding as Outrageous Cherry, but the organic minimalist quality of the songs make good listening. Immediately you’ll recognize this is great Beatnik pop music highlighted by the amazing “Too Black” with furiously pounding drums, monster guitar rhythms and Cat’s spoken/sung lyrics about suffocating memories “too black to see in.” The album is consistently good, “Shattered Youth” has elements of dance pop, and very much in the spirit of the B-52’s (without all that shiny optimism). The mystical “Miss” enters a more goth place and lovers of Bauhaus will appreciate the mope rock lyrics of “Misery.” The guitar work here is so compelling you get a reprise at the albums end. Well crafted, “Thin” is the epitome of music for a smokey dark room.
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