Western Daughter – As The Sun Went Down

Western Daughter comfortably occupies the end of the frayed indie rope.  Built around the wiry vocal capacity of Robert “Yee” Hawkins and a slight country-leaning guitar twang, the comfortably off-kilter showmanship amalgamates the vocal fervor of Violent Femmes with the experimental personality of I Said Stop!.  As exemplified by their debut mini-album, As The Sun Went Down, Western Daughter’s most apparent strength comes across as how interesting and entertaining each of the seven cohesive and unique tracks play out.

 As The Sun Went Down opens with rather direct sonic mission statement. “At Least Nobody Got Hurt” and “Except You” are quick to settle their experimental edge with plenty of stringy vocals, crunchy twang and chord-by-chord distortion. While not necessarily the most audibly attractive of the bunch, Western Daughter wastes little time with diplomacy and gives listeners a full dose of the lead vocalist’s pitchy, out of tune meandering. It’s an oddly captivating combination that feels every bit as raw as it does genuine.

 Once the show is confidently on the road, “Room Is A Mess” marks the appearance of the first really rhythmic chorus. The track takes the spotlight with a slight skip in its step in the form of an increased tempo that serves as a padded introduction to its distorted, guitar-heavy neighbour, “The Road Is Laced With Something Dangerous.” For As The Sun Went Down’s final half, Western Daughter follows much the same formula with equally as spiking and fading results. Spastic without feeling unfocused, the remainder crunches along and lurches onwards with a firm resolve.

 For those looking for a change of pace in the indie-sphere, Western Daughter’s brand of intentionally flawed yelps, squeals and steady buzzing should fit the bill. Asymmetrical but focused may serve as the best description of As The Sun Went Down’s overarching sound. While the album might be a bit polarizing based on individual preferences, those looking for something quirky with a bit of twang should feel right at home.