7/10

On their latest release' The Shadow of the Guest', Blonde Redhead take a bold detour through the shimmering corridors of their 2023 album 'Sit Down for Dinner', crafting a spectral reimagining that feels both intimate and vast. The album revisits and transforms earlier tracks with the help of the soulful Brooklyn Youth Chorus as well as some unexpected twists.

'Before (Choir Version)', the lead single, is a luminous entry point. With layered voices weaving in and out like beams of morning light, it becomes a tender hymn to innocence, sung from the perspective of children. Kazu Makino’s airy, poetic delivery sits alongside the choir’s harmonies, creating a moment that feels suspended in time.

Elsewhere, the album delivers mariachi touches on the internet-beloved 'For The Damaged Coda', and whispered ASMR arrangements that hint at an almost tactile listening experience. These unexpected interpretations make 'The Shadow of the Guest' feel like an alternate universe, as familiar landmarks seen through a misty new lens.

Blonde Redhead have long been masters of blending the ethereal with the visceral, and this record is no exception. It’s an invitation to wander deeper into their strange, beautiful maze of sound. Like all their best work, 'The Shadow of the Guest' feels timeless and curiously alive.