Fun fact: one of the many names given to a female deer is a hind. Though this may seem like a fairly clever moniker for an all-female indie rock quartet from Madrid, it wasn't their first choice - but one legal threat from The Dears later, and here we are. Still, there's nothing doe-eyed about Hinds: this band are commanding and self-assured, and their new debut album 'Leave Me Alone' proves that they don't take shit from anybody.
The LP is a gloriously respectful ode to garage rock; the lo-fi sounds inundate every track. 'Leave Me Alone' is defined by Carlotta Cosials and Ana García Perrote's battling lyrics and ample reverb-drenched electric guitars. The grungy tunes are vigorously summery affairs with a touch of disorder.
'CASTIGADAS EN EL GRANERO' - HINDS
Be blown away with the melodic guitar riffs of 'Warts', or the perfectly imperfect distorted vocals on 'Bamboo', or the raw energy of 'San Diego'. These songs are jam-packed with textures and effects, ensuring each track sounds warm and full. On occasions, it does cross the line and overwhelm the listening process, but on the whole is a successful experiment.
There's a few really special moments too - arriving at the entirely instrumental track 'Solar Gap' is a wonderful lullaby, providing an intermission at the halfway point of the album.
It's always refreshing to hear an album which hasn't been refined within an inch of its life, and the music crafted on 'Leave Me Alone' is deliberately flawed. Hinds' no-nonsense approach provides a fresh perspective to female songwriting, and with more than a handful of catchy tunes on offer, this LP is sure to make waves right around the world.
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