Hinds - VIVA HINDS

Anybody who’s ever been to a Hinds show would find it difficult to imagine that the Madrid outfit have ever been through tough times. Their delightfully exuberant brand of lo-fi garage rock is like a musical byword for joy, and to see Hinds play was always to watch dual vocalists Carlotta Cosials and Ana Perrote grinning at each other all night. Since 2020’s ‘The Prettiest Curse’, the group have lost half their lineup: bassist Ade Martin and drummer Amber Grimbergen having moved on. That makes Carlotta and Ana the core of the new lineup, and they have made bold strides on ‘VIVA HINDS’, enlisting A-list guest stars and following the lead of their last record by venturing into fresh territory: ‘Mala Vista’ pairs Spanish-language vocals with a groove-driven guitar, while there’s a touch of dream-pop to spacey closer ‘Bon Voyage’. 

The ebullience of old is in plentiful supply, too – ‘En Forma’ simmers towards a huge roar of a chorus, while ‘On My Own’ is irresistible power pop. Then, there’s those big-hitting collaborations: Grian Chatten’s vocals on ‘Stranger’ might not be strictly necessary, but the track does play like Hinds and Fontaines meeting in the middle, a smart blend of post-punk and pop. ‘Boom Boom Back’, meanwhile, is the album’s standout, featuring Beck at his danciest. ‘VIVA HINDS’ is an instructive title; where once their future appeared in doubt, they’ve now opened an exciting new chapter