Outside (Briefly) shifts through a diverse and sprawling sonic spectrum of psych-tinged, brooding, and melodic compositions delivered with a kind of nonchalant assurance.
The third album from Los Angeles’ Froth undoubtedly sees the band’s sound grow in maturity. There’s a musical precision over the course of these ten tracks that at times calls to mind the lo-fi, sonic economy of Ultimate Painting but with a touch more urgency pulsing through. Produced by Thomas Dolas, who also contributed cello and synths on this album, the four-piece’s experimentation with an amplification of their sonic possibilities is distinctly evident on Outside (Briefly).
This is evident on ‘Passing Thing’, with its languid, meandering melodies that weave their way among a dreamy haze of clattering riffs. As they deliver moments of graceful earnestness on ‘Petals’, and create layers of dark, brooding guitars on ‘Shatter’ with melodic, swooning chords bursting through Froth demonstrate an astute musical dexterity as they oscillate seamlessly between waves of heavier, hypnotic feedback laden noise and wistful, unhurried sparser sounds.
‘Sensitive Girl’ channels a familiar, nostalgic shoegaze sensibility, whilst opening track and first single ‘Contact’ offers a rhythmic, harmonious drone-scape to accompany JooJoo Ashworth’s resonant and relaxed vocals.
Closing track ‘Briefly’ bears an already timeless feeling to it with its blend of expansive, melancholic tones and majestic strings that create an undeniably enthralling and affecting soundscape. Having drawn songwriting inspiration from the novels of Haruki Murakami and Richard Brautigan, Froth channel this kind of obscure charm throughout the album, making this an entirely captivating listen to delve into and surely their best release to date.
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