Transmiticate

Transmiticate

L7 frontwoman Donita Sparks displays a much wider stylistic range on her first solo album, 2008’s Transmiticate, than her band’s aggressive hard-rock attack. “Fly Feather Fly” begins with a tough, nasal assault not unlike her old group, but elsewhere Sparks uses unexpected new textures. “Take A Few Steps” slowly lopes into a reflective gait that focuses on a few spare, lonely guitar notes. “Creampuff” and “My Skin’s Too Thin” are similarly mellow, a word never previously associated with Sparks. Not that this is a laidback affair, but Sparks does use her ‘pop’ side to strong advantage. L7 had their accessible moments, but their offensive assault was integral to their success. Here, even in its heaviest moments, the songs stay focused on their pop attributes. “Infancy of a Disaster” has a Middle-Eastern feel. “Into the Hi Fi” and “Headcheck” use power chords and feedback, but the beats from L7 drummer Dee Plakas are dance-floor friendly, something even more apparent on the sultry sneer of “Dare Dare.” Sparks is expanding her universe.

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