Modern Woman - “Ford”

SXSW 2024 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 2

Pairs Well With…Dry Cleaning, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Yard Act

Angular post punk with speaking vocals, British band Modern Woman take that intriguing, lyrical core and twist it with psych-rock, new-wave, and World music influences. While naturally intense, Modern Woman’s music is more groove-oriented than sharp alt-rock. It’s a quality that gives the tracks of their 2021 debut EP Dogs Fighting In My Dream and subsequent singles “Ford” and “Achtung” life beyond the storytelling within. Vocalist Sophie Harris switches from monotone conversation to dramatic sweeps of melody at ease, twisting expectations and letting detours take a bigger onus that the expected, straighter path. (Kevin McStravick)