[rating=8.00]
Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile are both respected songwriters in their own right. After meeting each other and jamming, the pair decided to make a split EP which eventually evolved into a full-fledged album, Lotta Sea Lice. Being that Barnett lives in Australia and Vile in the US, most song writings took place via the internet and Skype which resulted in some of the songs being written together and some which were songs that each wrote separately and then brought to the table. The album was eventually recorded over 8 days in the studio over 15 months. The result is somewhat haphazard as far as cohesion, however, the songs that are on the LP are excellent.
The first single from the album, “Over Everything” is a combination of bluesy garage rock typical of both artists that also allows each artist to showcase their penchant for wordplay as the lyrics “over everything” have multiple meanings throughout the songs. “Continental Breakfast” feels much more in the style of Vile as the duo celebrate each other as they sing, “I cherish my intercontinental friendship” over finger-picked guitars that feel much more Americana than guitar rock. “Fear Is Like a Forest” is probably one of the deepest tracks on the album and it may come as no surprise that it is actually a cover of Barnett’s wife, Jen Cloher. “Touch is like a tourist, you know when you are home, it’s not that I’m a purist, it’s just I’d rather be alone,” Barnett sings the lyrics that her wife wrote almost a decade ago. “On Script” seems to be a perfect amalgamation of both musicians’ styles as it starts more in the finger picking style of Vile and then integrates Barnett’s distorted tones and drawn out psychedelic solos. The album ends with the song “Untogether” that finds both Barnett and Vile singing together instead of trading lines back and forth. The combination of their unique voices meld together surprisingly well and as the song slowly fades away the listener can’t help but wish that there was another track following.
The inter-continental duo will share the stage this fall, performing songs off their upcoming album as well as delving into their respective back catalogues and covering a bunch of classics, all backed by their band ‘The Sea Lice,’ a revolving cast of musicians including Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney, Wild Flag), Stella Mozgawa (Warpaint), Rob Laakso (The Violators) and Katie Harkin (a touring member of Sleater-Kinney and Wild Beasts). Barnett’s wife Jen Cloher is also opening the shows, as a solo musician, with material from her new self-titled album. The resulting album is very entertaining for fans of either artist and we can only hope to see more of this collaboration in the future.
