Wet Leg – moisturizer

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There’s so much to love when a talented young band quickly figures out their sound and takes their music in the directions you were hoping they would. There is no “sophomore slump” to be found on moisturizer, the second LP by indie rockers, Wet Leg. After an astounding self-titled debut record garnered the band some Grammy wins and a moment of, “Holy shit, we’ve arrived” in the chart-topping singles of “Chaise Longue” and “Wet Dream”, Wet Leg appeared to solidify their status as much more than a one-trick pony on moisturizer. The set was once-again produced by Dan Carey (Civil Twilight, Foals) and this continued relationship truly pays off here. Wet Leg was founded by Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, and the two songwriters are joined here by Ellis Durand, Henry Holmes, and Joshua Mobaraki to round out their attack found on this blistering record that is filled with brash guitars, hooks for days, and improved songwriting.

”CPR” kicks things off with a bass-heavy track while Rhian takes the lead vocal reins with ease, as she wails in the opening verse as she ponders, “I tied a rope around my waist, I tend to get lost in your eyes / I took a breath, jumped off the cliff because you told me to / Is it love or suicide? Is it love or suicide? / Is it love or suicide? Is it love?” Rhian’s smooth vocals on the hook of, “Put your mouth to mine, give me CPR / Call it triple nine, give me CPR” is as polished as it comes from the talented songwriter. “Liquidize” follows the great opening statement with a mid-tempo rocker as Rhian harmonizes with Hester, and they showcase the magic that happens when they join forces together. The closing lyrics of, “Love struck me down / The fuck am I doing?” finds that Rhian is just as love-torn as most of us, while she just looks a whole hell of a lot cooler doing it.

”Catch These Fists” is an all-timer of a lead single, with the same type of magic that Wet Leg found on their self-titled debut’s “Wet Dream” as Rhian showcases clever lyrical wordplay with, “Can you catch a medicine ball? Can you catch yourself when you fall? / You should be careful, do you catch my drift? ‘Cause what I really want to know is can you catch these fists?” The song features incredible guitar work, and the five musicians seem as sync as they’ve ever been. “Davina McCall” is more of a ballad disguised as a starry-eyed love song about falling headfirst into a relationship that may or may not work out in the end. Lyrics like, “Days end too soon / When I’m with you / To be with you is but a…Dream about us taking holidays together / We won’t even care if we get shitty weather / Oh, ‘Cause you’re like the sun.”

”Jennifer’s Body” recalls a night out at a party, as Rhian gushes, “We’re pulling up to the party / You’re looking so cute / You’re giving ‘Jennifer’s Body’ / I’ll be needy for you / I’ll be the one that you want / I’ll be your best little friend / From outta nowhere / I just went and told you.” The punchy guitars balance out the lovelorn lyrics, as Wet Leg bounce along with like they’ve been doing this type of music for years. “Mangetout” puts the lens on other suitors who aren’t worth her time as Rhian confidently delivers the line of, “You think I’m pretty / You think I’m pretty cool / You wanna fuck me? I know most people do.”

The bass-heavy guitar groove, paired with the fuzz pedals found on “Pond Song” allows for Hester Chambers to take the lead vocals for a change, and Hester does a nice job of keeping the same vibe as the earlier material, too. “Pokemon” brings the mic back in front of Rhian, as she sings triumphantly on the summery, falsetto chorus of, “You wanna go for a drive? / I don’t wanna take it slow / You wanna go for a drive? / Isle of Wight to Tokyo / I don’t wanna take it slow / You wanna go for a drive? / All on our own.” “Pillow Talk” opens over a breakneck drum fill by Henry Holmes while the Ellis Durand bass-line is brilliant as well. Rhian quickly reverberates over the bass and drums with the poignant and up-front lyrics of, “Every night, I hold my pillow, I wish I was holding you / Every night, I kiss my pillow, I wish I was kissing you / Every night, I lick my pillow, I wish I was licking you / Every night, I fuck my pillow, I wish I was fucking you,” to get straight to the point.

”Don’t Speak” might be the second best song of to be called this, with its great guitar groove and smooth, breathy vocals from Hester, while the only song I personally didn’t care too much for was “11:21.” The latter song kinda stalls in its overall delivery and feels like it takes forever to get to the finish line. “U and Me at Home” luckily closes moisturizer in the comfortable pacing found throughout Wet Leg’s sophomore LP, and finds Rhian at her most vulnerable as she ends with, “Sometimes, I get so sad / And my blue eyes fade to grey / You tell me it’s not so bad / You always know just what to say.”

Wet Leg shimmer and sway all over moisturizer in a way that is sure to make indie rock fans gush over the slick songwriting and smooth production found here. The LP never overstays its welcome at a run-time of under 39-minutes and is packed with hook after hook in this 12-track gem. Wet Leg are here for the long haul, and I’m all here for their rapid development.

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