!!! – Wallop

A sweaty variety show

The unsung heroes of leftfield dance bangers have returned. !!! Is out with the new album Wallop, where gobs of personality and a scoop of playfulness show up in the production and the vocals. The music is often familiar and pop-centric but there is experimentation working its way into the mix. This produces hard-hitting cornball dance grooves worth getting sloshed to.

“Let it change you” is a fairly straightforward electro-pop banger, like much of !!!’s music the vocals are delivered in an oddly uplifting eccentric manner adding a lot of personality on the tight electronic production. On Wallop, !!! stylistically morphs and evolves with every track, these tonal shifts are subtle and sometimes ambiguous, but the vast array of sounds and effects at the group’s disposal keeps things fresh. “Couldn’t Have Know” is much more laid back and disco-flavored, the cool guitars and reverb crooning is a definite change of pace. “Off the Grid” featuring Meah Pace brings the driving club beat back, with tight sequenced grooves and head bobbing vocal melodies.

“Serbia Drums” sounds more like freaked out indie rock than anything else. Acoustic drum grooves and jangly guitars pair well with bright synth bells. The vocals are an introspection about self-identity and proving yourself to yourself. The production and vocals are uplifting and fun yet are able to hit on relatable issues like artistic self-worth. “My Fault” is also an introspective self-deconstruction hiding in a glossy and smooth dance track. Things get weird on “$50 Million,” the vocals are delivered in such an odd and dynamic way, the production is a fun and diverse array of driving percussion and funky synth melodies.

!!! is a group defined by good energy and fun. The music is crazy, funky, chill, weird, and most of all dance-worthy. The diverse production and intriguing vocal delivery build an album steeped in odd and enjoyable details, whether with bright guitars or abrasive synth bass.