Some bands find their groove and stick to it; others reinvent themselves constantly. Sextile belongs to the latter camp, embracing the thrill of an ever-changing road map. The LA duo of Melissa Scaduto and Brady Keehn craft music with a lust for life, drawing inspiration from no wave to hardstyle. Their latest album, yes, please, pushes their sound into bold new territory, fusing anarchic electro fire with raw personal recollections—and enough beefed-up bass to bust a speaker or two.
yes, please. is an album of contrasts: a vulnerable record that bares its soul as much as it revels in excess, showing just how far you can push your sound when you shake off your inhibitions. Together, the pair betray a confidence that never wavers, making a bold splash on the speedy intro with a rave siren cut from a ‘00s New York house party or sweaty Brooklyn warehouse. By the same token, the spirit of electroclash stalks the building, flashing its ID on the cowbell-peppered thunderbolts of “Freak Eyes” and “Rearrange”, and turning in a scuzzy dancefloor bomb with “Women Respond to Bass”. High on endorphins, “Push Ups”—which features vocals from Jehnny Beth—is pure muscle music, fortified by hoover bass and fleshed out by synths that hammer as hard as lumps of hail on a glass roof.
But behind the slogans, sass, and monster dance energy lies an intimacy that can only be found from opening up about painful, life-altering events. “Hospital” and “Soggy Newports” reflect Scaduto’s harrowing experience in a New York state-run facility after a near-fatal accident. “Resist” tackles abortion rights, while “Penny Rose” explores US education, AI, and future generations. Scaduto’s elastic vocals shine throughout, from the razor-sharp synths of “S is For” to the trance-pop heights of “Kids,” featuring Izzy Glaudini from Automatic.
yes, please. is an action-packed dance record stuffed with wild, heady roof-raisers but is in the same breath a testament to living, and never looking back. In opening themselves up to a new “freeing” way of making music, Sextile have whipped up their most creative offering to date. Then again, you just know they still have so much more to give.
