Album Review: US Girls - Heavy Light

The light, breezy feel-good pop of latest single, 4 American Dollars, is a delightful introduction to US Girls' latest album Heavy Light. This time around the project, led by Meg Remy, has crafted a collection of almost instantly likeable songs that teem with hooks. 

At once depressingly heavy and yet unbearably light, Overtime is an amusing song about working hard and drinking harder. Originally featured on 2013's Free Advice Column, it's reworked here to pay homage to the sounds of Motown with a stomping beat and funky groove. Capturing the drama of the song, Overtime literally explodes with a dramatic saxophone solo from Jake Clemons of E Street Band fame.

Most of the tunes feature subtle atmospherics and orchestrations, and tend to be percussion-heavy; even the more mellow moments of Denise, Don’t Wait are propelled by percussive clicks and whirrs. Not a cover but perhaps a sly reference to Ray Charles, Born To Lose is cheerfully pessimistic, where personal introspection reverberates with political and cultural consequence. This is a deep dream of an album guided by memory, personal reflection and acute observation.