Pet Shapes is an album that is nearly 10 years old. But, unlike your pet gerbil, this is still sounding strong even after such a long time.
Sun Hat is a bit of a mystery to me. There is not much biographical or historical information anywhere online for the band. I could only come up with three facts about them: 1) They formed in 2014; 2) they are based in Philadelphia; 3) they really, really like roasted Brussels sprouts (yes, really!).
‘H8 Myself And I Want a Dog’ – It’s a raw, hazy start with a satisfyingly shoegazy, psychedelic sound. The serrated guitars hum and bristle like an exposed nerve. Howls of feedback punctuate the track, and the whole thing rolls along with a swagger that sounds like Oasis with balls.
‘Any Better’ – I loved the solo bass intro – a barely contained scowl of a sound with just the right amount of nastiness. Again, this has some throwback melodic and rhythmic touches – but not from 10 years ago when the album was released – this feels like it could be from the 60’s (Beach Boys-esque falsetto backing vocals? – check!). The melodies add a joyous energy that is truly infectious.
‘Telemetry’ – A wonderfully casual, loose sound and an unvarnished, almost throw-away vocal from Abram Taber add a real carefree, nonchalant vibe to this track. I loved the spaces and gaps where nothing much was happening. This really felt like a rock/blues workout with jazzy overtones and an unstoppable groove.
‘Fauxdega’ – Here we slide down a trippy psychedelic wormhole as guitars phase and swirl, and we drift off on those long, extended vocal notes, which are set quite far back and obscured by echo and reverb. The second half of the track feels like a band having fun, jamming, and working it out in some dark, dusty garage somewhere.
‘100k’ – For me, this is a slightly less accessible track than the others. This is not a criticism, though, as the marching rhythm and big, angular chords give this an epic feel. More than ever, I wanted to know the lyrics, but alas, as with the other tracks, they are buried quite deep and obscured with distortion and echo. We are left to ponder meaning using only fleeting moments of clarity and the song titles. This is a cool rock experiment, and I reckon it’s more of a grower than a shower.
‘Chemicals’ – A shuffling, almost country-tinged sound adds a nice dimension to the album at first. The slightly dissonant vocal gives things a menacing edge, which I loved – it actually reminded me of Kurt Cobain in terms of wild abandon and creative freedom. A lo-fi atmosphere that shifts from smooth to jagged with great aplomb, and as usual, it has another undeniable groove. This track is a perfect example of the twists and turns in ‘Pet Shapes’.
‘Nights’ – Artful use of FX on the vocal, and a restrained guitar sound give this a beautiful power that is intoxicating. The way things quickly build in intensity, a riff so simple, yet so effortlessly effective, and Abram’s vocal – rising and rising in pitch – up and up into a scream that is both terrifying and amazing. My favourite track on the album is a perfect closing track.
I don’t know why Sun Hat has chosen to promote their debut album at this moment. What I do know is that, 10 years after its original release, ‘Pet Shapes’ isn’t showing its age and feels like it could have been made last week. Having said that, there is a nicely nostalgic sound – and attitude – to many of these tracks. Dense with melodic ideas and riffs-for-days, the raw energy of ‘Pet Shapes’ will make you want to gather it up in your arms and take it home with you.
Written by Grubby
