Everything but the Everything is back, and they're hotter than ever on their new "A & B Sides Vol. Two." If the A-side, "Hotshot," dazzles with its dreamy splendor, it's the B-side, "Salt," that drives home the band's signature blend of alt-punk grit and throbbing new-wave hooks.
"Salt" grabs you right from the beginning note with its shuffling bassline, infused with a moody urgency. It grows into a sonic storm, punchy guitars serrating the atmosphere, drums beating like a heart on overdrive. As the exultation builds, the singer Sophia Prise offers an impelling tour de force, going from dark, insinuating murmurs to stratospheric refrains. Her voice, soaked in emotion and attitude, glides over "Salt" kinetic energy, creating a blend of haunting and electric on "Salt."
What's unique about "Salt" is its effortless incorporation of edge and elegance. There's a nostalgic undertow and a reference to post-punk greats, but the band imbues it with a new, contemporary thrum that seems all their own. It's a song that stays with you long after the last note fades, leaving you wanting more.
With "A & B Sides Vol. Two," Everything but the Everything confirms that the band produces sonic experiences that must be felt. "Salt is a blitz, thrill, and dose of alt-punk that has not died.