Hype Williams’ Dean Blunt regroups with Joanne Robertson, his old bandmate in Bo Khat Eternal Truth Band and a regular, shadowy contributor to his solo (The Redeemer) and Babyfather recordings, for the blue indie-pop of Walhalla, which originally appeared in spring ’17. The vibe is strung between Joanne and Blunt’s respective styles, drowsily circling psych-folk, grunge and country guided by an avant soul common to both artists. X marks the opener, a sort of soul-fired psych-folk chamber piece placing Joanne’s guitar and vocals high over Blunt’s burbling blue organ, whilst Pusher is just pretty much Fiona Apple (I can’t take this shit) and Mass Appeal catches Blunt giving it Bonnie Prince Billy style, and again wrapped in duet with Joanne in Paro, which is a pitched-down early version of Babyfather’s Blow. There’s more Babyfather-style soul flow on Had My Guard Up 2 U (Since ’92), but our favourite parts are reserved to their lo-fi pop vignette, Triple Beam, and the ticky nerviness of Fuckboy Anthem at the record’s close, finishing off a record that leaves us decidedly uncomfortable and perplexed that we’re listening to something that could have appeared on the Dawson’s Creek soundtrack.
