The latest single from hometown heroes Girls, entitled “Vomit,” emerges from tender territory. Opening with a series of heartbroken finger-plucked chords, Christopher Owens’ delicately croons: “Nights I spent alone / I spent them running round looking for you, baby.” These lyrics echo morosely and due to their slow repetition, pull the listener into a bleak and self-effacing landscape.
Girls’ acceptance and acknowledgment of its numerous influences blister awake and we experience tighter drumming, acidic guitar washes, gospel vocal laments and straining organs. Just as abruptly as the instrumental onslaught occurs, it cycles back into a single acoustic strum, mutating into a multicolored repeated refrain. The aforementioned singular elements melt and Owens’ demands: “Come into my heart, my love.” The 6-minute epic track finds its home upon conclusion and is resolute, proud of being vulnerable.
If this single is an indication of the rest of the forthcoming album, Father, Son, Holy Ghost, expect Girls’ to explore newer sonic resources and sincerity. Father, Son, Holy Ghost will be released September 13 from True Panther Sounds. Don’t miss Girls on tour this fall with its final shows on October 8 and 9 at Great American Music Hall in SF.
–Julianne Wagner