Hinds
En Forma
(Lucky Number)
Spanish girl band Hinds created quite a splash with their 2016 debut LP Leave Me Alone. Consciously channelling 60's garage and surf rock vibes the album demonstrated that the foursome could more than match their male counterparts for both musicianship and song writing.
While the two subsequent albums saw them experimenting with different styles ranging through grunge, stadium rock and mainstream pop, they failed either to build on the promise of LMA or establish a coherent identity. The departure of bassist and drummer Ade Martín and Amber Grimbergen could have spelled the end of the band. Instead twin guitar and vocalists Carlotta Cosials and Ana García Perrote have opted to continue as a duo.
First fruit is - En Forma, the group's first single in their native Spanish, showcasing a harder, more primitive delivery. En Forma is an infectious and exhilarating existential rant which in its machine gun delivery merrily assassinates the shock of hitting 30 in a chaotic and disturbing world, oh there's a a departing boyfriend, too.
In attitude and approach the new sound is firmly rooted in the late 70's, early post punk feminism of The Raincoats and Kleenex - who also unashamedly, preferred their to sing in their native Swiss German, with maybe a nod to Wire's debut album Pink Flag.
The production, by ex Vaccines' Pete Robertson, by contrast, nods firmly in the direction of Lightning Seeds. In short, it's a delightful mix of contrasts- simultaneously raw and polished, spontaneous and well machined. Here's hoping that the band's new LP, Viva Hinds, due out via Lucky Number on September 6, will continue in the same vein. Two other tracks pre-released; Coffee and Boom Boom Back - the latter featuring Beck are no less infectious than En Forma, but perhaps understandably given they are sung in English, more American in flavour.
The band embark on an extensive tour the same month with dates in UK, Mexico, US, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and France through to March 25.
Hinds Tour Dates
September 13th – London, UK – Lafayette
October 9th - Mexico City, Mexico - Foro Indie Rocks
October 12th – San Diego, CA - Casbah
October 15th – San Francisco, CA - The Chapel
October 17th – Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios
October 18th – Seattle, WA - The Crocodile
October 20th – Madison, WI - High Noon
October 21st – Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall
October 22nd – Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop
October 23rd – Toronto - Lee’s Palace
October 25th – Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
October 26th – Washington DC - Union Stage
October 28th – Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall
October 29th – Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw
January 16th - Barcelona, Spain - Sala Apolo
January 18th - Valencia, Spain - Sala Jerusalem
January 24th - Madrid, Spain - Teatro Barceló
February 17th - Brighton, UK - Concorde 2
February 18th - Birmingham, UK - Castle & Falcon
February 20th - Glasgow, UK - Saint Luke's
February 21st - Manchester, UK - Gorilla
February 22nd - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club
February 24th - Bristol, UK - The Fleece
February 25th - Southampton, UK - Papillon
February 28th - Brussels, Belgium - Botanique (Museum)
March 1st - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Tolhuistuin
March 3rd - Berlin, Germany - Frannz Club
March 4th - Hamburg, Germany - Nochtspeicher
March 5th - Cologne, Germany - Gebäude 9
March 7th - Paris, France - La Bellevilloise
Essential Information
Main image by Dario Vazquez