Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

Some things are meant to be, a meeting of minds born out of frustration, the chance encounter which goes on to greater challenges and pursuits, such is life and the way of the world. For the two women who make up Deap Vally, Lindsey Troy and Julie Edwards chance meeting and a shared disaffection with getting their music being played has led to the formation of the group and an interesting and attention grabbing debut album, Sistrionix.

Whilst the cover of the album suggests an artistic homage to fellow American band Heart from their own 1976 debut Dreamboat Annie, the music that lurks beneath the surface is anything but the subtle sound that propelled Ann and Nancy Wilson on their path to global stardom. What it is though is dynamic, lively and with a sense of manic urgency that bodes well for the future of the group. Furtive it certainly isn’t, there is no room for shyness or acting coy in this album, the subtle approach wouldn’t work. Instead what the listener gets is a slap across the metaphorical chops and re-evaluating of what goes on in the construction of a debut album.

It is also refreshing to see two very talented women making this cascade of deep down and dirty music without reverting to a standard that would alienate possible listeners or horror upon horrors have people judging them on the basis of their gender rather than their superb and creative talent. Tracks such as Baby I Call Hell, the clever Walk of Shame, Creeplife and Woman of Intention blast out from the speakers with daggers drawn, a special glint in their eyes and the threat of what is to come. It is music to play when the bad mood strikes, to rage against a corrupted machine and then take note of the underlying beauty of it all.

Los Angeles has produced some scintillating acts over the last decade, it is now time to make way for a new breed.

Ian D. Hall