Heaven Sent, the second album from Boston indie pop trio
Mini Dresses, is a bit more of a casual affair than their self-titled debut. While that album was painstakingly created in a studio, its follow-up is a mixture of studio and home recordings, bringing it a little closer to the spirit of the band's early EPs. The production is generally sparse and lo-fi (or perhaps mid-fi), leaving ample room for the guitars, drums, bass lines, and vocals to resonate without drowning them in reverb or other effects. Interestingly, the group alternates between proper drums and drum machines, but they achieve such a consistent sound that it's hard to tell the difference unless you're really paying attention. The songs themselves are some of the tightest and clearest the band has written. First single "Rank and File" seems laid back, but its steady drum-machine beats and insistent yet dreamy chorus render it quietly urgent. The jangly guitars and sighing vocals of "Lady Running" are a dead ringer for
the Sundays' first album, while the tense "Dark One" has a heavier bass line and more sinister subject matter. Further songs like "Open Mind" and "The One Who Heard You" continue to strike a balance between softness and a slight sense of caution or pensiveness. It's not outright dark music, but it's clearly not something to simply relax to, either. Slightly more upbeat is "Once or Twice," which sets faintly trembling vocals over a lightly thumping rhythm.
Mini Dresses' music has always been minimalist in nature, so like their other releases, this one doesn't cry out for attention, but it's certainly rewarding if you give it enough time. ~ Paul Simpson