Cartwheel

Hotline TNT

Released on 11/3/23 by Third Man Records
Main artists: Hotline TNT
Genre: Alternative & Indie
Distinctions: Pitchfork: Best New Music

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Cartwheel is thrilling, alive and so much cleaner, brighter—more high-fidelity—than the Brooklyn (by way of Minneapolis by way of Vancouver) shoegaze band Hotline TNT's previous extremely lo-fi releases. "It's transforming from a bedroom activity to a career," singer-songwriter Will Anderson (formerly of Weed) told NME of Hotline TNT's first album on Third Man Records. "That's where we're at right now." The "we," though, is still just Anderson plus engineers/co-producers Ian Teeple (Snõõper) and Aron Kobayashi Ritch this time. (Live, the lineup includes two more guitarists and a drummer.) "Protocol" is big in the way of My Bloody Valentine and early Lush, leaving you satisfied with the feeling of being completely full. It's about, Anderson has said, occasionally taking the blame in a relationship even if it's not fair: "Rip my pain off/ Make me do somersaults/ Break protocol," he sings in his sweet voice before the whole thing ends in vibrant feedback. Anderson is prone to describing his emotions through stomach-churning physical feats, like somersaults and cartwheels, as on "I Thought You'd Change" ("Cartwheel/ We're riding on our heels/ No deal/ A kiss would make it real"), which is about wanting a friendship to turn into something more and sounds like Stone Roses covering a Teenage Fanclub song. And that's the thing: There is so much lovely melody here, on songs like vibrating "BMX," with its harmonic layers; the giddy pop explosion of "Out of Town"; and even the slow-moving, luxuriant drone of "Maxine." "I Know You" opens with an ebb and flow of crashing guitar waves, but is really still a folk ballad. Many of the songs are short but complete sketches, clocking in at under three minutes—but that's all it takes for Anderson to execute a TKO. "Son In Law" is almost punishing in its opening heaviness before it mellows. Ride-like "Beauty Filter" shimmers and glimmers, with crashing drums punctuating the end of Anderson's lines. Excellent "History Channel" boasts muscular guitar that sounds as if it was sent through time and came home covered in shaggy fuzz; it's a pop song that practically teems with life. And "Stump" is a surprise and delight: a buoyant, cleaner-lined sunshine jangle with 1950s dream-angel vocals. © Shelly Ridenour/Qobuz

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Cartwheel

Hotline TNT

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Protocol