Jockstrap - “Acid”

SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 9; Popularity Index: 5

Pairs Well With…Black Midi, Sleigh Bells, Yves Tumor

Pigeonhole-free, Jockstrap’s sophomore EP is a disparate collection of eclectic pop, from chippy dance tracks to lush dream pop to avant-garde synth rock all in twenty minutes time. Opening with industrial experimentation “Robert”, a track that also features a psychedelic-dipped verse from Injury Reserve, Jockstrap use metallic rhythms, deep bass beats, and even feedback ambience on the head-turning introduction. Next a full turn to classical strings and bubbly, distorted pop balladry on “Acid”, a song that floats and descends back and forth in beautiful ambition. There are actually more pretty moments on Jockstrap than initially inferred, see the first half of “The City” before it somehow turns into a wild electro-funk freakout. The young UK duo have a masterful touch on weirding out their songs without getting lost, strange but studied throughout this highly ambitious release. (Kevin McStravick)