Something Soft

M(h)aol arrived on the Irish/U.K. indie scene of the early 2020s with a cranked amp, power chords, and an anti-establishment wail on both the EP Gender Studies and their debut LP, Attachment Styles. The latter landed them on Merge Records. While the groups dissonant post-punk tendencies, alienated feminist lyrics, and balance of earnest, playful, and exasperated tones remain in place on the follow-up, what has noticeably changed is their singer: Nic Ghearailt left the band to contend with physical and mental health problems, so M(h)aol drummer Constance Keane stepped forward in double-duty fashion. (The rest of the lineup includes guitarist Sean Nolan, producer Jamie Hyland, and unofficial bassist Sarah Deegan.) Although Ghearailt could sometimes summon the spirit of a 70s Johnny Rotten, Keanes silkier, more refined voice definitely brings a different tenor to her singing debut, Something Soft. Dont be fooled by the title, though, M(h)aol have plenty to shout about. "Pursuit" starts the album with a whisper (alongside a modest guitar motif and distant, echoing clunks clapping out time). As the song gathers tension, volume, and grinding fuzz, Keanes voice goes from a whisper to a voice-cracking shout as she tries to outrun an unnamed figure, keys clutched in her hand. The very real dystopic landscape thus established, "DM:AM" finds her dealing with misunderstood messages and possible fallout among squalling guitars and insistent drums, and she remains uncertain and provoked on songs like "Snare" and "1800-Call-Me-Back," ("I need to hear what you said before/Why did you say what you said before?"). Just as alienated but more detached, "You Are Temporary, But the Internet Is Forever" has her speculating, "I must have passed away before you passed my way" and "I still look great on the internet." In a couple outliers, Nolan takes the lead on "Vin Diesel," and "Clementine" is a noisy, group-sung entry. Speaking of noise, Something Soft ends with the almost wordless "Coda," a four-minute, stomp-grooving blast of grating noise, processed, P.A.-like voices, and a long series of yowls. While the distinctive Ghearailt may be missed, Keane holds her own, and its good to hear M(h)aols too-underrepresented take on the zeitgeist continue on. ~ Marcy Donelson