Wannabianca "Family" Review
Review by: John Bair, Writer @hillbilly_chic
Edited by: Paul Thorson, Hip-Hop Writer @PaulyT03
Taffy-Pink Backdrop
It’s Friday night, and you are scrolling your Instagram feed when an image captures your attention. It is a 90s glam shot with a trio of young-somethings you’d think were siblings. They wear vintage basketball jerseys in front of a taffy-pink backdrop: This is Wannabianca, the relatable sludge band you didn’t know you needed.
“Family” is the second project by Sludge-Pop Minneapolis icons Wannabianca. In this EP, two truths oscillate around the thesis “Family.” The lyrics carefully and honestly describe stories of familial dysfunction and the emotional truths accompanying them. “Family’s” depictions of the self are so specific, they create a sense of universality. It is this brand of truth-telling that made Amy Winehouse relatable. It’s the same brand that makes Wannabianca so endearing to an ever-expanding niche audience. As the kids say, the lyrics “hurt so good.” Wannabianca brings us into the sludge, but there is more to “family,” which will become evident.
To balance the depictions of dysfunction, Wannabianca brightens the corners of the family home with humor. This is apparent in their glam shots and awkward family photo style promotion. Similarly, there is an Easter egg on the final track for the committed listeners. In this track, a childlike plagal cadence play on a keyboard straight off the Goodwill shelf—a Portasound 90s nostalgia music plaything. Hallie’s voice nasalizes and jumps to her higher octave in what I assumed to be an impression of a child talking to her sister. She swoons about snacks and eventually moves into a boop-a-doop style sensuality as she sings about popcorn. Honestly, it is wild and you should listen all the way through the EP.
Shoebox Family Photos
“Family” feels like foraging for roots in Wannabianca’s discography. As a departure from the pop forms in their first single and album, this EP thumbs through song sections like one thumbs through shoebox family photos. The assemblage nature of form is surprising for the listener and speaks to the ethos of this album.
Sludge Pop Trinity
“Family” begins with a hiss, like a propane tank leaking in the backyard. An affected guitar motif, played by Kyle McKinney, comes in and creates anticipation. The length of the exposed motif grabs attention and speaks to the confidence of Wannabianca’s brave new direction. Hallie’s voice enters conversationally, and finally, Karl snaps in on kit. The Sludge Pop trinity is all in and ready to rock.
For this EP’s minimalistic production, the bells and whistles were left in the attic Rubbermaid. The entire three-song journey is Halley’s voice supported by sparse glittery guitar parts and slow-building drums. My first impression was that this EP was recorded live and, if I am wrong, it means to sound that way. The production that stood out to me is the use of effects on the voice. Hallie’s lament is treated with enough reverb to feel at home on the “Twin Peaks” OST. Delay brings importance to certain words and creates a feeling of immortality to the voice.
Haunting the Halls
Hallie’s voice is an apparition in grandma’s house haunting the halls of “Family’s” deeply personal and rosebud lyrics. Her wistful croon is a lament for shattered expectations and is exemplified in the final eponymous track Family. Though her voice is sad, there are moments of catharsis. In MJ, her vocal prowess shines through in rebellious yells intermixed with Halley’s archetypal howl.
Gritty and Pretty
This record is gritty and pretty. Ephemeral melodies rise from descending chord progressions and slow-building song sections. The stellar songwriting and musicianship embolden Hallie’s guttural lyric and ethereal voice without getting in the way. All of this is packaged with a street-savvy artist’s eye, and the result is one of the coolest EP promotions I have seen this year. This three-song EP leaves the listener satisfied but anticipating more. I know what I am asking Santa for this year, and it rhymes with “Wannabianca Full-length Album.”
Listen to Wannabianca’s “Family” EP wherever you stream your music:
Subscribe and tune into thhe Melodic Noise Youtube Channel Sunday, December 19th at 1 P.M. for our interview with Wannabianca live!
