Album Review: Warpaint - 'Radiate Like This'
‘Radiate Like This’ is an invigorating and timely return from Warpaint, a band that has lingered in the wilderness for the past couple of years. On top of a six-year musical hiatus, the Californian quartet were seemingly descending into the history books until the announcement of their fourth LP in June of 2021.
As each member - Emily Kokal, Jenny Lee Lindberg, Stella Mozgawa and Theresa Wayman - increasingly worked on separate projects, including solo endeavours and contributions to The XX and Phoebe Bridgers, hopes of the hiatus coming to an end started to feel far-fetched. Not only were their musical schedules busy but their social commitment kept them on their toes as well; lead singer/guitarist Kokal even gave birth to her daughter the day before the US went into lockdown.
All the signs were pointing to a further prolonged period of isolation (excuse the pun), enticing us to think the unthinkable: what if a return never happens? Yet as the world has strived to navigate the pandemic by somewhat returning to a pre-pandemic lifestyle, so have Warpaint. Dusting off the cobwebs and emerging from the global quiet, ‘Radiate Like This’ is everything we have come to expect from the Californian outfit.
Formed in 2004, Warpaint spent the 12 years up to the release of their last album building up a vast, energetic following with their rich blend of dream pop and art rock which so often manifests itself in the form of captivating albums, all of which feel as fresh today as the day they were released.
It cannot be said that the new album strays too far from their previous works, albeit with a heightened emphasis on drum machines and imposing synths perhaps inspired by the endless sagas of lockdowns. Yet there is a comfort in familiarity after six years apart.
The new project is a reminder of everything we loved about their previous records: tracks which more than hold-up as individuals and compliment each other perfectly, whilst ditching the pop-based aspects of their previous project ‘Heads Up’. Despite their time off, their music has lost none of the beguiling charm and dreamy comfort that attracted us to them in the first place.
Warpaint have always had a special knack of finishing songs in a wall of noise seemingly without breaking a sweat. Kicking things off with their first single from the album, ‘Champion’, they tease an ambient introduction which builds into a cascade of hazy guitar riffs and astute percussion in a similar vein to the laws of their first full-length album ‘The Fool’.
We are then introduced to more interesting and dynamic sides to the album with ‘Hips’, a curious mix of looping riffs and electronic drumbeats accompanied by Kokal’s effervescent lyricism. The album thunders on with ambitious harmonies and reliable basslines, culminating in a thoroughly entertaining experience from start to finish.
Ultimately, ‘Radiate Like This’ is a triumph when Warpaint’s musicianship allows it, keeping the listener intrigued whilst retaining the unique identities they have crafted through past glories. Six years was a long wait, but if a band whose releases are so consistent are not permitted an extended break, then who is our patience reserved for?
