It’s easy to ascribe Hotline TNT’s reverberant, head-splitting wails of shoegaze as a hazy dream, listlessly wandering about attempting to find meaning in the noise. With every subsequent record, Hotline TNT slowly chips through their self-imposed room of fuzz and let a bit of reverb spew out. On Raspberry Moon, the walls finally come down and, refreshingly, their notes ring out in the open. Taking cues from Jesus and the Mary Chain, Hotline TNT have streamlined their sound into an accurate reflection of themselves. Raspberry Moon, their first record written by the entire band, sees everyone embrace their newfound openness to great melodic effects. [maybe change/reads awkward]
It’s no surprise that the hard-hitting tunes from Cartwheel would translate gracefully under a pop-infused veneer. But make no mistake, Raspberry Moon is littered with tunes that sing with their heads down and their guards up. Opening track “Was I Wrong?” sees acoustic guitars gliding the track towards a melancholic memory of love and loss. Aided by washes of fuzzy drones, the track slides seamlessly into interlude “Transition Lens.” Warbling synths blare outwardly as subdued guitars attempt to break through, the track acting as though the reflection period of great mourning. “Break Right” is a jangly alt-rocker that never strays far from their roots. A subtle piano amplifies the track’s trudging guitar riff, with frontman Will Anderson never belting more than a couple decibels. “If you could suffer my bad night/ The music died,” Anderson sings dejectedly, calling out without the strength to yell.
This isn’t to say Raspberry Moon strays from the band’s fuzzy signature. Raspberry Moon revels in its ability to evolve the band’s sound without ditching their roots. Producer Amos Pitsch allows each member to shine without entirely taking them out of their shell. Take “The Scene” for example. Each sliding guitar punches through every bass drum kick without smearing into one. A slight piano paints a vivid hue underneath the washes of blaring noise, with Anderson’s vocals never being out of focus. However, this harmony is best seen in “Julia’s War” where various guitar feedback fights for the spotlight as a kicking drum groove carries the track into an arena-like chant.
The dividing line between Raspberry Moon and Cartwheel is Hotline TNT’s newfound undertaking of traditional noise-pop and melodic indie rock. The result is an album varied in structure, stylings, and tone, all of which perfectly blend like a coordinated dance between new and old. “If Time Flies” flies with watercolor-like instrumentation, fluidly weaving through punchy snare hits and a nostalgia-ridden guitar melody. “I wanna try/ get butterflies” Anderson belts on “Candle.” The track is a sincere letter to a lover, something atypical of Hotline TNT, but a welcome addition as its pop-punk riffs make for one of the record’s catchiest songs. “Dance The Night Away” is a wonderful departure from their more grunge-laden roots. The track’s washing guitars, alongside Anderson’s cheesy yet endearing lyrics, evoke a sensation similar to youthful obliviousness. It’s the closest the band will get to writing a prom anthem.
Raspberry Moon is a tasteful evolution into adulthood. Despite its lyrical vignettes that read as faint recollections, Raspberry Moon disregards the past and steps into a new future. It’s an optimism that’s finally making its way out of the shadows. “It’s not over/ until you go home,” Anderson muses on the (somewhat) acoustic ballad “Lawnmower.” Because in essence, home is never a situated place. It’s a constant shift that Hotline TNT understands all too well. It’s only reasonable, then, to assume the band is currently situating themselves anew. Raspberry Moon may not be the home they’ve been looking for, but they’re definitely venturing in the right direction.
Raspberry Moon is out via Third Man Records.
