The Fight

On their full-length debut, 2017s Young, indie pop duo Overcoats fortified their distinctive, blended two-part vocal harmonies with a mix of slick surfaces and atmosphere devised with producers Autre Ne Veut and Nicolas Vernhes (Dirty Projectors, Wye Oak). Almost -- but not quite -- leaving behind any trace of their acoustic folk beginnings on the follow-up, Hana Elion and JJ Mitchell brought in producers including Justin Raisen (Charli XCX, Sky Ferreira, Kim Gordon) to forge a still brasher sound. He and co-producer Yves Rothman also co-wrote the album with the band. An empowerment-themed set, The Fight establishes sleek, assertive electronic textures right from the a cappella intro to opener Ill Be There. Manipulated electronics infiltrate the singers built-out harmony vocals with filtering and other effects. At the same time establishing a lyrical tone thats compassionate as well as determined, the opening stanzas include the lines Ive been through it all before/And I dont know if theres something more/But theres so much worth fighting for. A spare, anthemic track, it adds piano, handclaps, fluttery percussion, and warped vocal samples, among just a few other components on its way to the rousing Fire and Fury. Like much of the album, that songs fuller arrangement reinforces two and four while assuring Well get through it. Elsewhere, the vibrant Apathetic Boys pushes the tempo with overdriven drum tones and nervy synths, and The Fight (Just remember that you are not alone) deploys four on the floor strummed guitar and airy synths. With the exception of that track, the energy drops somewhat in the second half of The Fight with songs like the electric guitar ballad Drift and closer New Shoes, the one acoustic entry. While strong vocal performances are pushed forward in the mix throughout the album, and Overcoats hold their own as pop adepts a la Tegan and Sara, their vocals are most affecting there, amid chirping birds, in their stripped-down, natural form. ~ Marcy Donelson