Too often, an album comes out swinging so hard at the start that you inevitably overlook the band. Ribbon Skirt, on the other hand, are inventive and self-assured from “Bite Down’s” first seconds to its last. Featuring vocalist-guitarist Tashiina Buswa and multi-instrumentalist Billy Riley, formerly half of Montreal indie rockers Love Language, the duo pack their debut with instinct and swagger. It’s the kind of short, bracing piece of art that disarms listeners with bursts of clarity. Lyrics like “I want to preserve every part that makes me” (“Off Rez”) and “It’s getting harder not to feel so abandoned” (“Wrong Planet”) take on colonization, identity and intergenerational trauma head-on, adding to the urgency of the record. “Bite Down” was released back in April and was nominated for this year’s Polaris Music Prize.
On “Bite Down”, Ribbon Skirt proudly carry the flag for brash and hook-laden Mint predecessors like the New Pornographers and the Organ. If you’re wondering what Canadian artists do better than anyone else in the world, it’s exactly this.
“Bite Down” has been my newest obsession as of recent, I cannot get it off repeat. It feels so effortless in sound without losing any of its depth, especially not so in the lyrical department. Simple, catchy, and impactful, it’s a real treat. craft clever, compelling indie rock that swings between soaring and sludgy, tender and tense. Their songs have roots in the ’90s but the production and arrangements feel entirely modern, with layers upon layers of hooks and melody. The not-so-secret weapon here is Tashiina’s voice, which can go from sultry to snarl to shriek depending on what the song needs, making for a meaty, deeply satisfying record.
The Fat Angel Sings 