There is nothing like a good debut album. In the case of Xiu Xiu, their Knife Play debut from last year was both a bitter pill and a heavy dose of prozac. In a brave move, Xiu Xiu wore their 80s pretension simultaneously on their sleeves and buried deep underneath their affectations. Like a creature trapped in a Joy Division compression chamber, singer Jamie Stewart hit the right notes without forgetting about the wrong ones. Every good 80s album has its hit single, and for Knife Play it was "I Broke Up(SJ)," an undanceable thumping blast that either made you sentimental or caused you to run for the door. So, of course, I awaited Xiu Xiu's follow-up. While A Promise couldn't really be categorized as a sophomore slump, it lacks some of the bewildering charm of its predecessor.
Whereas Knife Play was as cold and dark as the surface of the moon, A Promise touches on a spectrum of emotions. Unlike its more immediate quick cutting cousin, A Promise prefers to softly caress the surface of your skin before plunging the knife deep into your eardrum. "Apistat Commander" for example, begins with minimal keyboard notes and soft singing that are rudely interrupted by bursts of noise and clanking of metal. A Promise is full of contrasts, fragmentation, and the kind of alienation we have come to expect from this band, but with a twist.
A Promise doesn't contain the gut wrenching tracks of its predecessor, but has perhaps more self-consciously beautiful moments. "Sad Pony Guerilla Girl," which kicks off the record, is a stunner. It is Xiu Xiu-light, with Jamie Stewart's voice accompanied by crystalline notes and softly affected guitar. Like many tracks on the album, Xiu Xiu coaxes the listener with sweet melody before dashing it with strangeness. "Sad Pony Guerilla Girl" contains one of the most twisted segueys in recent memory, a twenty second spasm of mutant harmonies and handclaps that will catch you off guard no matter how many times you hear it. Perhaps to a greater degree than past efforts, however, A Promise has its share of missteps. "Ian Curtis Wishlist" is the kind of track that Xiu Xiu-haters will point to as an example of Jamie Stewart's misplaced outbursts. But for a band as prolific as Xiu Xiu, who will probably drop more releases in five years than most bands in their entire career, it's partly excusable. In the end, A Promise won't make your hair stand on end, but don't be surprised if it makes you a little tingly.
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