Horsie, Homeshake’s second album of 2024, arrives just months after the unexpectedly guitar-heavy, slowcore-influenced CD Wallet. This time, Peter Sagar returns to the sparse, semi-electronic bedroom pop of earlier Homeshake work, delving into themes of anxiety and loneliness. The album reflects Sagar’s complex feelings about resuming touring after the COVID-19 pandemic forced venue closures. The lyrics explore daydreams during long drives between gigs, phone conversations with his partner, and nostalgic recollections.
The songs are characterized by airy guitars, mellow keyboards, steady drum machines, and soft, lilting vocals, maintaining a comfort zone of melancholy. While traces of CD Wallet’s distorted guitar appear in brief interludes on tracks like “Horsie” and “Nothing 2 See,” and in the subdued shoegaze of “Ice Tea,” Sagar avoids revisiting the R&B/pop hooks of albums like Midnight Snack or Helium. His vocals are pitched down on the drowsy yet pleasant “Blunt Talk,” and he retains the downbeat tone even when his voice is unaltered.
“Believe” introduces a touch of Steely Dan-style sophistication, while “Empty Lot” drifts into ambient drone. Overall, Horsie offers variations on the familiar Homeshake style, providing a soothing soundtrack for those in a reflective mood.
English