Review: Waxahatchee - Ivy Tripp
By Megan Fair, Copy Chief
[Merge; 2015]
Rating: 4/5
Key Tracks: “Air,” “La Loose,” “<”
Waxahatchee, the musical entity that is Katie Crutchfield, has been heralded for its lo-fi acoustic authenticity and hauntingly sad lyrics woven into both heavy and poppy tracks such as “Hollow Bedroom” and “Be Good.” Crutchfield’s ability to ensnare the listener in her sweet voice while subtle instrumentation evokes varying feelings of hope and despair has earned her well-deserved credit, seen in the reception of American Weekend and Cerulean Salt. While both records are incredibly well assembled and dear to my heart, they seem like sweet-sounding stepping stones leading up to her latest and greatest, Ivy Tripp.
Ivy Tripp, while distinctly Waxahatchee, is by far the most explorative body of work by Crutchfield. Clocking in at nearly 38 minutes, her longest release to date, she uses all 13 songs to explore varying sonic realms previously left untouched. “La Loose” is a bouncy, almost French-feeling ditty with a cheeky drum machine under breathy falsetto, while “<“ is a minor-laden odyssey of chaotic drums and spectacular riffs. “Air” is the most crisply produced Waxahatchee tune to date, and its bittersweet, sing-along chorus suits the simple, synth-laden track perfectly.
Crutchfield maintains the lyrical themes of wist and loss, but there is no panic here. In "Air" she coos, “When we are moving we just pretend to be strangers lamenting a means to an end / You were patiently giving me everything that I will never need,” signaling that complicated, self-aware neurosis present in many Waxahatchee narratives. “<“ features the pseudo-chorus “You’re less than me / I am nothing,” over lilting riffs and spastic drums, mimicking the complex feelings of apathetically lounging in bed while thoughts race reflectively.
I will admit that I was not entirely sold upon first listen, but the more I listened to Ivy Tripp the more I noticed the subtle intricacies and grew to appreciate the artful exploration of new styles. The production is clearer, ditching some of the fuzz and crackling reverb to let Crutchfield’s beautiful and unique voice guide the music. Her ability to belt on the more traditional track “Summer of Love,” juxtaposed with the breathy intimacy and gentle high notes of the finale “Bonfire,” show Crutchfield can manipulate her vocals to reflect whatever sonic universe she aims to inhabit.
Ivy Tripp shines as a record that’s varied enough to be interesting but is still woven together with Waxahatchee’s distinct stylistic touches to create a complete and cohesive album.
