XV - On The Creekbeds On The Thrones LP

XV - On The Creekbeds On The Thrones LP (Ginkgo Records/USA)

Street Date: April 7th - will be sold 5 days before to land by release date.

Written by Erin O

Listening Notes: When I (Erin O.) first heard XV's 2019 self-titled LP, I felt like I'd joined the best secret club ever. The band Lithics posted about the record on its Instagram page. But there was no trace of XV online, so I bought it, sound unheard. If one of my favorite bands likes it, then I would, too, right? I got one of 100 hand-numbered copies of that initial release, and every time I listened, or played it on my radio show, I felt both special and ridiculous for being one of the only people with access to this music. That record, with lo-fi post-punk that’s wonky-weird-in-the-best-way, like Raincoats and Marine Girls with a hint of Jonathan Richman’s quirk, with titles like "Lamp," "Sore Throat," "Costco" and "Saran Wrap" has been reissued, thankfully. Perhaps even more more thankfully, XV's got a fresh new one ready to delight us further. They have more of an online presence now, and there's a great interview with the band in a recent issue of Maggot Brain. If the first single from On The Creekbeds On The Thrones, "Funkyconomy" is any indication of the rest of the record, we're in for more of why this band caught our attention in the first place. If the music is belabored, it doesn't feel that way — these songs are fun and free and they have things to say. XV fandom is no longer a secret club, and that’s the way it should be.

Mood: The funnest band practice ever.

They Say:

“I do identify as unhinged and feral in the creative space and on many occasions” – Emily Roll

“It is always changing, always in the moment” – Claire Cirocco

“I don’t understand what Claire or Emily are doing, but it works when we play together” – Shelley Salant

‘On the Creekbeds On the Thrones’ is the second LP by XV, a limitless, fiery, deep-breath of a record. Where their 2019 debut had a startling, first-kiss energy, ‘Creekbeds’ is reflective, momentous, poetic. Textures multiply, evoking both the endlessness of sky and the terror of a bottomless well. There’s a daring sort of faith in these songs, the way the three members trust in the resonance and persistence and joy built into each song and the way they trust in each other. This faith provides a tender, messy space for thoughts, feelings, outbursts, joys, and sadnesses. The observations made on this record – from petty irritations to existential crises – are articulated in a way that feels always like solidarity, never like whining. Paired with the tumbling snarl of the instruments, the songs project a kind of clumsy telepathy, a heartfelt exchange that is both confrontational and deeply welcoming. - Ethan Swan