Horse Jumper of Love – ‘Disaster Trick’ album review: sonic heaviness taking things up a notch
THE SKINNY: Boston‘s Horse Jumper of Love (HJOL) have been cult favourites for quite some time now, honing a distinctive slacker/slowcore blend that hinges on frontman Dimitri Giannopoulos’s gloomy and often surreal lyrics, his chiming Jazzmaster and a tight rhythm section ballasting the mood. With their latest effort, Disaster Trick, the trio might be about to find even greater audience numbers and gain the prestige they’ve always deserved.
With Giannopoulos now sober, the group created their most affecting and robust record yet with Alex Farrar in Asheville, North Carolina. On the new opus, they’ve leaned into the sonically heavy aspects that they’ve long toyed with, but much more concertedly than before, managing to evoke the gargantuan power of Hum as well as the cerebral, poetic beauty of Leonard Cohen. Mentioning these two disparate names clearly illustrates the two stylistic binaries between which the trio sit and find much success in cultivating.
While the record is certainly a departure of sorts, it’s also a natural progression and one that many fans have likely been expecting. The sparse and often bleak slowcore that made them such favourites remains, as do the frank lyrics, but things are more atmospheric than they’ve ever been, with the newfound heaviness augmenting proceedings. This is a wholesale success, given the artful character of all their work.
A deeply accomplished record fusing sonic grit with melodic splendour, while the nihilistic vibe won’t be for everyone, particularly those in the middle of the so-called ‘Brat summer’, Disaster Trick confirms Horse Jumper of Love as one of the best guitar bands around. It provides a stunning alternative to the masses of Von Dutch shades and current obsession with all things remotely green.
For fans of: Slowcore, Last Year at Marienbad, and a little hash joint in a foggy field.
A concluding comment from your local Charli XCX ‘fan’: “this is so depressing godddd… live a little…”
Disaster Trick track by track:
Release Date: August 16th | Producer: Alex Farrar | Label: Run For Cover
‘Snow Angel’: A perfect way to kick off the record. Opening with captivating acoustic strums before the distortion pedal is stamped on and the band bursts through the mix, it says everything about this new era that the trio opted to commence Disaster Trick with a number that blends their past and present so effectively. [4.5/5]
‘Wink’: I’ve been in love with this track since it arrived in May. Complete with Giannopoulos’ expressive and inventive guitar work, a slow but hypnotic beat, a warm bassline, and an affecting chorus, this combination of thematic and musical heaviness is a masterstroke. It underpins one of the band’s best songs to date. [5/5]
‘Today’s Iconoclast’: A HJOL number that feels more familiar with its direct vocal melody and relaxed but shuffling beat, it is still another welcome stop, with Giannopoulos’s chiming guitar once again leading the charge. The vocals are extremely catchy, too. [4/5]
‘Word’: A slow, spacious cut that recalls some of HJOL’s best earlier moments, it’s in no hurry, with the palpable atmosphere and sentiment enveloping the listener with its distinct hints of nihilism. The maudlin solo is a triumph. [4.5/5]
‘Lip Reader’: This stop is much more unrestrained, with the elements crashing in from the get-go. A forthright vocal melody pushes this one forward, giving way to towering minor chords and an almost doomy essence buried deep within. It’s an incredibly dark effort, and while it might be quite straightforward compositionally, it’s absolutely astounding. [4.5/5]
‘Wait By The Stairs’: This is another strong contender for the best inclusion on the record and yet another of the trio’s finest to date. A winding number clocking in at nearly four and a half minutes, the gothic atmosphere is palpable as Giannopoulos weaves in and out of pure emotional terror and celestial harmonies. Another excellent guitar and vocal performance is topped off by the mammoth climax, potentially pointing to the muscular direction where the group might continue to head in future. [5/5]
‘Heavy Metal’: A more unhurried, loose palette. Something of a spiritual sibling track to ‘Wink’, the slow, but firm hits of the drums and Giannopoulos’ wailing guitar creates one hell of a cacophony. There’s a beautiful outro as well. [4.5/5]
‘Curtain’: HJOL do depression better than most, and this cut is perfect for the bleak winter nights when life seems stagnant and positivity is at an all-time low. Discussing goodbyes, closing a black curtain and breaking someone’s joy is one of the most emotionally intense stops of Disaster Trick. [4.5/5]
‘Death Spiral’: A fuzzy piece, with the frontman’s vocals drenched in telephone-esque effect and the rhythm section distorted like an old transistor radio, these simple but effective production choices add an extra dose of drama and even romance to the song, which is one of the record’s shortest. [4/5]
‘Gates Of Heaven’: Kicking off with a line about being late to work again, the penultimate juncture is another memorable lyrical tale, complete with infectious melodies and a full-bodied guitar tone. Melodic but slightly off-kilter, somehow, the group manages to keep their formula fresh. [4/5]
‘Nude Descending’: More energetic than most of what comes before on Disaster Trick, the metronomic 4/4 hits of the snare buttresses this one, with a melodic but clanky bassline and the frontman’s twisting guitars dovetailing each other like synchronised swimmers as it pushes on to to the end. Serious hints of Pavement. [4.5/5]
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