New Music – Perfect Blend

Mannequin Pussy is a band that is ambidextrous and carries a certain weight to their chaos. Not entirely based in punk, not entirely submerged in indie, Perfect as their 5 track EP gives one better look into how they become a gem in a rough diamond mine.

Much of the attraction that comes from Mannequin Pussy is disguised by their soft and angelic grips on the thighs through lead vocalist that are silk over the dreamscapes of an instrumental. “Control” as a first track is like the opening shot to a town that appears over sunset hills and rolling banquets of sound.

As the subtle guitar strums are replaced with more electric and energized introductions, “Control” takes the dog bites of Perfect’s cover art and replaces them with gentle head pats to substitute. As tension begins to build, “Control” turns faces into the title track, “Perfect” where Mannequin Pussy is more sadistic and better at emotional breakdown.

“Perfect” flashes images of Mannequin Pussy’s first record, Romantic that has the lead vocalist Marisa “Missy” Dabice going full assault mode. As they spend more time creating violence than caresses, Mannequin Pussy becomes an effigy of building anger and swinging necks where “Perfect” is deliberately fast and unapologetic.

With their live energy, they capture much of that appeal in “Perfect” but can blend the other tracks to be a sequenced five-act play. Where Perfect becomes unique is in the transitional periods where Mannequin Pussy is able to tightly pack the addiction of underlying aggression with the fantastical nature of falling in love.

“To Lose You” comes as this more uplifting instrumental, reaching back into the nature of those sunlit hills and reflective soundscapes of “Control.” Instead, the lyrics match as this fear of being vulnerable while Dabice shouts over and over again, “And I lie, what more can I say? To lose you. And I lie, why can’t I stop? To lose you.”

The other stars of the show come from Colins “Bear” Regisford on bass and vocals, giving Kaleen Reading a groove to follow on the drums and percussion. Finally, there is Thanasi Paul on rhythm and lead guitars, also while sometimes hard to notice, there is piano that shines through and gives moments of brief, but beautiful understanding.

The final track, however, instead recruits Will Yip on drum production and Grave Goods for the additional production which becomes spacious and better based on falling into this ocean. The guitar from Dabice here is gorgeous and a glistening memento paired along to the simple but capturing percussion.

Again, Dabice’s vocals here are a monument to the validity that Mannequin Pussy has and the lucidity that they can capture as a unit. As Philly’s pure instinct band, Mannequin Pussy can be both the rise through the heights and the eventual fall back into their lover’s arms.

ListenTo Perfect Here!!! – BandCamp/Spotify/iTunes