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Waxahatchee - Air

‘Air’ marks a step up in Crutchfield’s already stellar, and growing, catalogue.

Photo: Jesse Riggins

13th January 2015

Following from 2013’s gorgeous ‘Cerulean Salt’, Waxahatchee has been releasing bits and pieces from her new record ‘Ivy Tripp’, scheduled for release on April 7th. ‘Air’, somewhat appropriately, has a breathy but intense vocal; simultaneously battle-ready and dismissive. The instrumentation is sparse; even with military snares and overdriven, slinking guitars, the production is set up for Katie Crutchfield’s brutal, timid honesty.

Sharp, pointed verses make way for an almost uplifting chorus, encapsulating the bizarre ambiguity and directionless nature of early 20-something relationships. It’s a step into the dark after ‘Cerulean Salt’, where the Breeders-esque vocal harmonies and keyboards from tracks like ‘Peace and Quiet’ once dominated. The chorus is a master-class in space and minimalism. “You are patiently giving me every answer as I roam free,” Crutchfield sings, exploring a story of contrasting commitment, an overriding narrative of having a solution and ignoring it. This is a stunning song, which marks a step up within Crutchfield’s already stellar, and growing, catalogue.

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Tags: Waxahatchee, Reviews, Listen