When waves wash up on the shore, they usually leave traces of foam lying on the sand. The foam itself is the aftermath and serves as a brief reminder of what just happened until another wave crashes down on the sand and washes it away.
Kamikaze Girls have titled their new album Seafoam, and as listeners we can tell from the subject matter of their songs that they are dwelling on various past struggles that once came crashing into their lives. In the aftermath of such struggles as anxiety, addiction, and loneliness, they have tried to make sense of them while the foam still lingers in their minds.
The reverb-laden vocals throughout this record play a central role in its overall sound. Such a heavy focus on lyrics is reminiscent of Rites of Spring due to there being very few sections without lyrics in any of the songs. It quickly becomes clear that singer Lucinda Livingstone has a lot to say and not so much time to say it in.
‘Teenage Feelings’ for example, opens with a New Order-like hook and then propels toward the first verse in which Livingstone sings: “Back, back and forth. Why am I always so back and forth?” In the second verse she asks “How could you possibly know what’s in my head? I meant to tell you.”
Although these feelings certainly can be associated with teenagers, this is a topic that will likely resonate with listeners of all ages. Feelings of indecisiveness, of being alone or misunderstood, are themselves a seafoam in post-adolescent life; they do not go away without leaving some trace of what once was.
“Touch me again, I will knock your fucking lights out.”
Surrounding the introspective lyrics in each song is an often shimmering and distorted guitar along with the thundering drumming of Conor Dawson. ‘Good for Nothing’, which follows ‘Teenage Feelings’ with a slower but still passionate tempo, employs this template to convey such messages as “My broken back’s against the wall” and “Rain, rain on me. I’m good for nothing.” The slowed down tempo reinforces the somber mood of this song – one of self-doubt and pity.
Many of the lyrics on this record do focus on internal problems like these, but there are also instances of societal problems being addressed. In ‘KG Go To The Pub’, Livingstone sings: “Touch me again, I will knock your fucking lights out” referring presumably to aggressive males who make her “nervous to leave the house.”
‘I Don’t Want To Be Sad Forever’ focuses heavily on societal problems and current politics. “We don’t need more war. We need art. We don’t need more misogyny. We need respect. We don’t need more genderphobia. We need freedom. We don’t need more segregation. We need solidarity.” This is a hopeful message. We must fight so that when these societal struggles – war, misogyny, genderphobia and segregation – crash onto our shores, they leave behind a seafoam of art, respect, freedom and solidarity, and not one of hate.
It is clear that Kamikaze Girls have no real intention of hiding behind metaphors or vague references in their lyrics. Their ideas are direct and are amplified as they reverberate amid the distortion of the guitar and the marching crack of the snare drum.
This album is a reminder that careful reflection on one’s own problems can lead to a further understanding of problems within society at large, something which is especially important in a time when we cannot know the severity of the next wave to come crashing down upon us.
