Dance in the cosmos
It has been nine years since Blonde Redhead released a full-length album. That was until September 2023 when the album, Sit Down for Dinner, was shared with the masses. This album reflects the band’s ability to mix genres like synth-pop and shoegaze, creating a spacey ambiance and leaving the listener entranced.
Sit Down for Dinner is comprised of 11 tracks and comes in at 48 minutes long with each track averaging over three minutes. The length of the songs allows the band to have more time to experiment, draw out long droning notes and emphasize certain aspects of the music, which they do often throughout the album. Sit Down for Dinner relies heavily on what’s going on behind the vocals, drawing your attention to the meticulous detailing and connotations they are trying to convey. One song to mention is the fourth track, “Melody Experiment.” This song lacks organic sounds and seems to be mainly programmed noise. This is definitely not a negative comment as this opens up a large array of directions for Blonde Redhead to go in creatively. “Melody Experiment” is not a very complex or revolutionary song but it stands out within Sit Down for Dinner. The background is filled with fluttering bursts of sounds and soothing synthesized pads, eventually adding elements of percussion in the final half of the song. There is just enough going on without it feeling chaotic or overwhelming for the listener. Blonde Redhead’s ability to mix sound and make every instrument feel like it fits should be recognized.
Even though a majority of the tracks are emotional and dramatic, the lonely upbeat song obviously stands out amongst the rest. “Sit Down for Dinner, Pt. 2” is filled with bedroom-pop influences and upbeat drums. The vocals are also playful but not distracting. Most of the songs on Sit Down for Dinner have simple lyrics with simple melodies that are used as an extension of the music. The vocals blend into the song rather than sitting on top of the music. The listener’s focus is not drawn to one noise being too loud and allows the music to be heard as one cohesive expression of noise.
However, the impressive ability to blend sound does not mean the vocals and lyricism should be entirely overlooked. The way Blonde Redhead writes is reminiscent of a stream of consciousness or a diary. They are also partial to asking questions within their lyrics. Songs like “Snowman” and “Rest of Her Life” pose questions to the listener and open up a chance for dialogue. This not only relays the emotion and thoughts of the writer but also gives the audience an opportunity to ponder on these questions, asking themselves “Do you feel alive?” and “Do you know why?” These are very broad questions containing an extreme breadth and amount of room for answers. Yet, they still make sense within the context of the song, oftentimes being followed up with an explanatory sentence. This lyrical choice is very interesting and adds a deeper element to the music.
This album is for the people who need to settle their minds and allow their thoughts to dance around the music. The gentleness of Sit Down for Dinner flows steadily, encapsulating the listener in the sparkling sound. Nothing in this album feels rushed. It reminds the listener to slow down and smell the roses all while tightly hugging their ears.
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