More about: Deap Vally

It's been three years since vocalist and guitarist Lindsey Troy and drummer Julie Edwards came out with their rip roaring debut Sistrionix, a record dripping with angst and plenty of anger particular to the female experience.  

But despite the years spent on the LA duo's follow up record, it looks like the ladies have lost none of their snarl. In fact, Femejism arguably chews through even more seething social commentary than its predecessor. 

Though the guitars are still dirty as ever and the vocals growl with the same intensity, the overarching themes coming through are generally postitive and hold a live and let live attitude.

Perhaps in an attempt to shake off the White Stripes associations that dogged of their debut, a bit of meat added to the previously bare bones, production-wise. The chunky riffage and wailing that served them well on the first record is still there, but they delve into the psychedelic. For example, single 'Gonnawanna' takes the band's pervading lyrical theme of anti-conformity into a gentler, more psychedelic realm in the dreamy verses anyway.

Though it sounds startlingly similar to Band of Skulls' 'Sweet Sour', the opening cut, 'Royal Jelly', is pure punk rock perfection.'Critic' breaks from the fuzz with a clean guitar and reverb-drenched atmosphere that seethes with bubbling rage, while Edwards will most certainly break free of any Meg White branding with her visceral efforts on tunes like 'Post Funk' and 'Grunge Bond'.

However, the highlight of Femejism has to be in 'Smile More', which, like 'Gonnawanna', is a confident statement that seems somehow evolved from Deap Vally's earlier material. It's melodic, drenched in reverb, and no longer feels the need to tear away at its oppressors, but rather rises head and shoulders above and strolls right through them. "Yes I am a feminist," sings Troy with a dose of snark. "But that isn’t why I started doing this." 

-- 

Issue Two of the Gigwise Print magazine is on sale now! Buy it here.

More about: Deap Vally