Horsegirl Phonetics On and On

On their second LP, Horsegirl craves a minimalistic vision that reveals an unassuming side to their music. Striking in their immediacy, the Chicago trio aims for playfulness and openness exhibited in their fairly sparse guitar pop. Sometimes, like in the strings-laden 2468, they lock into a jaunty groove that, while lacking in lyrical acumen, brims with infectious energy. Often rooted in spontaneity rather than overthinking things too much, both Switch Over and Rock City resort to endearingly shambling instrumentals and whimsical vocal harmonies that come off with good-natured charm.

Musically, their low-stakes arrangements fail to ignite much of a spark. But occasionally, like in Where'd You Go?, they pair loose freakout solos with jittery, The Feelies-like rhythms quite capably. Indie-rock whisperer Cate Le Bon does help the trio move away from the more obvious pastiche of their debut, Versions of Modern Performance. But in refining their approach, Horsegirl stumbles onto a new set of influences that takes away from their true identity. Nevertheless, there are flashes of brilliance -- Frontrunner, accented with a lovely twang, details a story of romantic yearning that hits deeper as it progresses. These more relatable moments would've elevated an album that, to its credit, has the sounds of the past they emulate down pat.