LOOKERS - Deeper LP

Highly recommended.

"The genesis of Lookers began when vocalist and poet Muggs Fogarty and guitarist/frontman Rafay Rashid sparked as a songwriting duo in the 2010’s. They recruited notables from the Providence, RI music scene, including bassist/violinist Florence Wallis, guitarist Nick Politelli, and drummer Bryan Fielding.

With songs that tease and thrash, Deeper will leave you spent and wanting more. The album opens with Rafay and Muggs’ “Midnight TV Dinner”, starting us off with restless nights and hot desires. Then they jump into bed with the tongue-in-cheek eponymous track “Deeper”. Florence’s “Animal” follows with the addition of violin.

Moments of seductive lightness dance through the sparkling guitar chimes of “Alone”. “It’s not enough, it’s just an ocean”/ “You’re not what I want” / but no one else will do”.

“Bury You Under” offers a cinematic end to the first side of the record with a murderous revenge fantasy and Nick’s expert feedback loops. Bryan’s kick pedal was squeaky and the sound made it into the recording for added texture. Muggs’ voice melds into a machine with some glitched out operatics.

The second side strikes with the understated ghost story, “Body Bag”, followed by the banger “Depressed,” on which the guts of Muggs’ voice are supported by a driving beat, accented by violin. “Thing” has Nick’s expert finger picking, some pocket piano, extended doubling of vocals from Muggs and Florence, and surprisingly, a tambourine. “Crisis” is for dancing, not crying. Finally, at the end of “Dead,” you can hear all the hysterics the Lookers live show ignites from its audiences.

Recorded and produced by Bradford Krieger at Big Nice Studio, Deeper speaks to the complexity of desire, its erotic absences and desperations, its thrills. With songs originating deep in the shuddering heart of the band, most tracks pull from Muggs Fogarty’s language and Rafay Rashid’s musical instincts.

RIYL: Weak Signal, PJ Harvey