U.S. Girls: Heavy Light | 4ZZZ Brisbane 102.1FM

- If one was to mention that the latest album one has been listening to references '70's touchstones Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, David Bowie, Patti Smith, Jimmy Webb and Studio 54 to just name but a few, one wouldn’t be surprised to find out it was the work of some Brooklyn hipsters who’d incidentally decamped to the Catskills in upstate New York. That’s what is so brilliant about U.S. Girls’ Meg Remy, in that she takes on elements others may do, and then makes them her own.

The album in question is Heavy Light, the eighth album for U.S. Girls. It’s essentially a continuation of 2018’s In A Poem Unlimited, but with a twist. A lot of the album was recorded whilst touring In A Poem Unlimited, features three sound collages and also reworkings of previous material such as State House (It’s A Man World) and Red Ford Radio. It’s the work of an artist that takes inspiration from the aforementioned '70's iconoclasts, but most importantly remembers to steal the most important soul ingredients, not borrow. Remy is her own force.

Those who hear U.S. Girls for the first time, will most probably hone in on Remy’s unique voice: a vocal that's somewhere between Kylie Minogue and Patti Smith, a singer that could sing the phone book and make it sound great. Remy soars over these ten tracks (barring the three sound collage pieces). In fact, following the record with a lyrics sheet is a delight in itself, as you follow just how Remy contorts and phrases each line. Not only are they great lyrics, it’s just joyous to listen to.

Half Light is bookended by two special tracks – 4 American Dollars and Red Ford Radio. 4 American Dollars is the sort of smart politicking we come to expect from Remy all dressed up in some sweet soul, and clever percussion. The repeated refrain at the end of the song “I don’t believe in pennies and nickels and dimes and dollars and pesos and pounds and rupees and yens and rubles. No dinero!” is irresistible not to sing along to. Red Ford Radio is a reworking of a song from the back catalogue and breathes new life into this personal reflection.

In between those tracks is just a whole lot of classy musicianship. The musicians on this record are just as much the stars of this record. Ed Squires’ percussion arrangements throughout are spot on and made to sound easy. It feels like a winning '70's combination in that respect – find a unique personality/voice and pair it with some ace musicians who understand it. Coincidentally, Jake Clemons of present day E Street Band fame guests on one of the tracks, Overtime.

Despite its delights, this album doesn’t have a pile of singles like In A Poem Unlimited. It’s full of the idiosyncrasies often misunderstood by the corporate side of the music game. This album is for the collector. It’s for the loyal fan of U.S. Girls, and that’s probably going to be an endlessly growing entity.

- Ian Powne.
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