Model/Actriz’s new album “Pirouette” showcases a shift in their sound. The band has moved away from their typical noisy soundscapes and toward more straightforward rhythms and tones. Singer Cole Haden’s lyrics explore themes of self-identity, perception, and the pursuit of intimacy.
He reflects on early memories of self-censure and the struggle to share his full self with others. The album opens with “Vespers,” featuring a new wave-inspired guitar riff. Haden’s oblique lyrics speak to using pleasant memories to distract from the present moment.
“Cinderella” features a trebly drone, with Haden navigating a blend of lust and appreciation for a love interest. “Poppy” employs staccato guitar blasts and an agitated pace, with Haden shifting between elegy and anthem. “Diva” offers commentary on the superficiality of cosmopolitan life, while “Headlights” is a spoken-word piece documenting struggles with body image and low confidence.
On “Departures,” Haden captures the yearning to be other versus accepting oneself as is. The soundscape moves in a dancey direction, reminiscent of Mandy, Indiana or the pop side of Heartworms.
Shifting towards new rhythms
“Ring Road” revisits the band’s characteristic cacophony, with distorted guitars and hints of arrhythmia. Despite the harsh mix, there’s a hint of equanimity to Haden’s voice. The austere “Baton” questions whether personality is simply a construct for belonging and respect.
Haden reflects on the passage of time and mortality as he nears his late twenties. “Pirouette” showcases the band’s emotional and sonic versatility, though the tracks can feel elusive at times. Nonetheless, it is an intriguing album that highlights Model/Actriz’s creative restlessness and willingness to take risks.
The album thrives on contrasts between the band’s tendency toward cacophony and the taut control with which they play, as well as between the sweetness of the tunes and the pummeling din behind them. Haden’s vocals feel intimate and understated, even when he slips into a falsetto, yet there’s a cocktail of emotional intensity and campy floridity in the lyrics. Occasionally, the album takes a completely different approach, with tracks like “Acid Rain” and “Baton” offering straightforwardly beautiful moments.
“Pirouette” embraces a broader musical palette without sacrificing the band’s uniqueness. If their debut spawned a rabid cult following, this successor is poised to attract an even bigger one.
