London outfit Sorry continue on their iconoclastic path. And thank God for that! Cosplay, the group's third full-length record, is released this week, and it is, as you might come to expect from this lot, invigorating and complicated in equal measure.
"Echoes", the lead track and lead single, churns and pushes forward. There's an emotional urgency here that gives this an odd energy, while "Jetplane" takes that vibe and amps up the paranoia, vocals rushed atop heavy drums. A shout-out of "Hot freaks!" at the end of the song places this near the mood of the Guided By Voices classic of the same name. Elsewhere, "Candle" is a showcase for the vocals of Asha Lorenz. The song swirls around, and then sort of coils up before the emotional release near the end. "Life in This Body" finds Louis O'Bryen taking over lead vocal duties for one of the record's most affecting numbers. "Waxwing", my favorite cut here, is part Kate Bush, part Garbage, and something else entirely. The interplay between Asha's vocals as they go from intimate to yearning is thrilling. There's no other group now that sounds quite like this.
Sorry continue to remain one of those bands that defy easy description. When a reviewer like me tries to get folks interested in this, it's sort of an uphill battle given how this sort of complexity doesn't lend itself to easy comparison to older groups. That's a good thing though. I think Asha's vocals and the band's adaptability make Sorry one of the most interesting active bands these days. And Cosplay is another gem, and proof of the group's continuing upward trajectory.
Cosplay by Sorry is out on Friday via Domino.
[Photo: Iris Luz]