Barragán
Nineteen years into their career, Blonde Redhead haven\'t just seriously altered their own sound over the years; they’ve watched their audience grow up, with some replaced by newer fans at their shows. Anyone who remembers Blonde Redhead\'s early days recalls the constant comparisons to Sonic Youth; the listeners who hung in watched the band redefine their sound in the ‘00s with excellent albums such as *Misery Is a Butterfly* and *23*. 2010’s *Penny Sparkle* divided audiences with its accessible pop sound, but *Barragan* should please fans from nearly all eras. Kazu Makino sings with gorgeous affection on “The One I Love” and with exquisite power throughout, while twin brothers Simone and Amedeo Pace provide a tension and beauty that’s pure art rock—and in some case Krautrock (“Mind to Be Had”). The trio’s ability to settle into minimalist and denser, abstract territories, largely guided by synths as opposed to guitars, has refreshed them to the point of pained ecstasy.
Blonde Redhead's first album in four years finds the NYC avant-rock veterans following down the same path they started on with 2010's Penny Sparkle. Calling Barragán halfhearted would be giving it too much credit, both effort-wise and emotion-wise: it’s a cold fish of a record, dead-eyed and clammy.
The NYC trio recede from their edgy, no-wave past toward a chill, downbeat future.
The notion of presence seems fitting for a band like Blonde Redhead to explore 21 years into its career.