Xiu Xiu are a monolith. 17 albums and a passionate cult fanbase makes for a storied catalogue of work and artistic changes to realise, from the still internet famous breakthrough early albums, or the later Twin Peaks reinterpretation. One of the few big experimental rock giants, they continue to be prolific. 13″ Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips comes as the band relocates from Los Angeles to Berlin. Xiu Xiu (and its de facto band leader Jamie Stewert) have been a band of circumstances, with the music being a diary of lineup changes, personal lives, changes in lineup, living location.
Last album (2023’s Ignore Grief) focused on Xiu Xiu‘s more abrasive analogue “experimental rock” side, and Xiu Xiu’s lyrical love of the morbid and extreme shining through. This is not true for 13″ Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips. The “art pop” side of their sound comes through strongly. Despite Xiu Xiu being the kind of band that would have absolutely had a one hit wonder in the 80s, there are no traditional chart worthy hooks. There is, however, a love of melody that shines through stronger, especially on songs like first single ‘Common Loon’, with its industrial sized pop melodies and arps, and fuzz guitars.
Although Ignore Grief sounds closer to the archetypical sound of the Berlin techno scene without the relentless 4×4 kick drum, 13″ Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips feels more imbued with a sense of dance and movement. The drums take from everything from trip hop (‘Maestro One Chord’) to reggaeton (‘T.D.F.T.W.’), and have a groove that runs through the whole record.
The record isn’t all sunshine. The string and sub bass orchestration of opener ‘Arp Omni’ doesn’t give an immediate sense of friendliness, despite the band wanting to “stay ahead of disaster this time.” Jamie Stewert takes lead vocals over the album, giving their trademark uncertainty and wavering vocal tone. The record is friendly, but it may not be happy. The textures shift and morph. If you get some form of catharsis on one song, the next may be a deconstruction. Even if they are less explicit and straightforward than the darkness shown on early albums like ‘A Promise’, Xiu Xiu haven’t abandoned their roots. They still of look squarely at the darker sides of humanity and bring them into focus.
Xiu Xiu aren’t an easy band to break down into pieces; there’s context needed for everything. Any band with a 20 year career can’t be treated as an outlier, especially when there are as many genres and influences as Xiu Xiu have. This album adds to their canon, and shows a new side to their music, and as much as it can be recommended on its own, it’s hard to not review an artist like this as a whole. If you like Xiu Xiu, you don’t, you love them. You will listen to this album and add it to your numbered rankings of their albums, and talk to your other Xiu Xiu loving friends about how they feel about it. If you’re not into Xiu Xiu, but want to venture in, 13″ Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips is a great way to break in.