As singer and guitarist Amber Papini barely sneaks into tune on opening song ‘Nightingale’, one could be forgiven for thinking that the album will be merely another collection of garage pop from a Brooklyn trio. By the end of the track, however, the band reveals that they are superb creators of jam-pop.
Hospitality’s second long player Trouble has a feeling of restrained aggression. The artists threaten to unleash, but their sense of theatre teasingly prevents it.
The standout of the record is ‘Last Words’, an experimental offering that expands the trio’s use of electronic technology. Papini’s lead guitar soloing over the hypnotic driving drum and synth ambience is a testament to her musical versatility and technical ability.
Most of Trouble’s subject matters are related to relationships ending and the associated emotions. ‘I Miss Your Bones’ is Papini longing for her partner to return, whereas the following tracks cover the notions of moving on from a partner, rekindling passions, and downplaying the relationship’s seriousness. If this album has been written biographically, than Papini’s life is far more cluttered and chaotic than her methodically structured music.
While they might not be breaking any new ground, Hospitality master the use of slick production to marry traditional instrumentation with electronic sounds. Trouble is a mood shifting, genre-bending collection that will satisfy a broad demographic.
Listen to ‘I Miss Your Bones’ from Trouble here:
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