Album Review: Viva Hinds by Hinds

The Spanish female duo of Carlotta Cosials (vocals, guitar) and Ana Perrote (vocals, guitar) write playful songs with sharp melodies, snappy hooks, and a rush of punchy guitars. Topped off with a slightly sassy, slightly sexy vocal punch, the sound could be likened to a fusion of Wet Leg and Sorry But the clever pop sensibilities heard on Hinds' fourth album, VIVA HINDS, are rock's version of a guilty pleasure whose slightly off-kilter and experimental pop impulses are cunningly cultivated with fun in mind and are executed with a wicked sense of purpose. Imagine if you will, the raucous rhythms, bouncy beats, and rough riffs of Cherry Glazerr combined with the polished and sophisticated electro-pop/New Wave of Cults and the fierce melodicism of Yeah Yeah Yeahs to yield the sonic equivalent of French vanilla ice cream with just the right amount of salted caramel and chocolate pretzels for crunch, that is VIVA HINDS.

Full Review >>

Take Blossoms, Wet Leg or even The 1975 for example, they all started in small, local digs but broke free of their roots and made it to world-wide acclaim. One thing all of these bands have in common, however, is that their mother tongue is English, and now, what's truly a feat is when a non-English speaking (and singing) act establish a heavy and loyal fan base on UK-soil. ABBA or Kraftwerk were arguably the first of their kind, but in recent years, with the rise of K-POP (BTS), Eurovision (Måneskin), more and more people are realising that just because you're from somewhere, doesn't mean you have to limit yourself to music of that country.

Full Review >>

Since forming in 2011, Hinds haven't been without their setbacks - members leaving, management changes, and tour revenue loss. Despite this, Carlotta Cosials and Ana Perrote return stronger. Their fourth album opens with 'Hi, How are you?', sultry, mysterious vocals building into childlike screams: 'Lemme shine shine shine, one last time till I go numb!' The album includes an ode to The Cranberries in The Bed, The Room, The Rain and You - a dreamy bedroom pop track imagining solace and longing desire.

Full Review >>

Carlotta Cosials and Ana Garcia Perrotte began as a duo, expanded to a quartet, and are a duo again. But this time, Spanish language songs and Beck are in the mix It’s a case of coming full circle for Hinds this time around – Carlotta Cosials and Ana Garcia Perrotte begin their career as a duo, originally named Deers (until the Canadian band The Dears threatened to sue them, leading to a name change of Hinds). In 2014, they were joined by Ade Martin and Amber Grimbergen, and Hinds were, for a while, one of the most fun quartets on the planet.

Full Review >>

At 10 tracks, the album feels like the soundtrack to a new crush, unearthed just as the season fades. Picture cool dips in afternoon shallows, racing along the highway to catch the sunset, fumbling fingers in the sand, and leaves turning yellow at the edges. It's a special time of year, perfectly captured on Viva Hinds, a persistently dreamy homage to romance that invites you to dive in completely.

Full Review >>

Anybody who's ever been to a Hinds show would find it difficult to imagine that the Madrid outfit have ever been through tough times. Their delightfully exuberant brand of lo-fi garage rock is like a musical byword for joy, and to see Hinds play was always to watch dual vocalists Carlotta Cosials and Ana Perrote grinning at each other all night. Since 2020's 'The Prettiest Curse', the group have lost half their lineup: bassist Ade Martin and drummer Amber Grimbergen having moved on.

Full Review >>