Lakookala
Songs for ZeMean

This one-woman band, led by Nico Ranalli from her drum throne, has been compared to Alison Mossheart from the Kills. But I think it’s more like if PJ Harvey tried to redo PiL’s Flowers of Romance, especially on my favorite, the Side B opus “Without You.” She makes some amazing choices in her sparse accompaniment–simple piano bangs here, overblown Mellotron there. Minus one point for the shockingly conventional guitar on “Bad Timing” (the other songs have none, and to their benefit), but any bad vibes are washed away by the mottled pink vinyl she pressed this on!

-D. M. Collins