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| photo by Chris Fuller |
Hozi (Hozoji Matheson-Margullis) and
Juice (Justine Valdez), the ladies of Tacoma, prove that smart lyrics,
pounding melodies and menacing rock are not mutually exclusive.
Lozen, as a band, has been around since
2005, but their friendship extends further back to those ever so
foundational bonds of high school. Taking their name from the
Chihenne Chiricahua Apache warrior, the duo melds an isolating vocal
cacophony with some well-tested droning sludge. Straight up
reinvigorated riot grrrl.
Somehow this all does them a
disservice. They're more unique than reviewers give them credit, and
their song writing is more innovative than the easily applied
Melvins, Unwound comparisons suggest. As women artists go, we're
still in the habit of trying to make them fit into some
pre-established mold. Performative contradictions aside, sure the
influences are there and nothing is created in a vacuum, but after
almost eight years of playing together and evolving their sound, it's
somewhat degrading to keep throwing out comparison after comparison,
as if that somehow legitimates what they're doing.
Back to the vacuum: listen to Enemies Against Power (2007) followed by oona (2009) on their own merits. While I'm still
partial to the rawness of EAP, the obvious
progressions to oona evidence a subtle yet
powerful evolution of a sound that generates its own aggression.
Live, Lozen is a fucking blast. The intensity quickly builds as Hozi
and Juice build off one another, smiling, scowling, flailing,
screaming, laughing, slaying ....
An anti-establishment wrecking crew at
its best. Intuition says wake the fuck up.
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