Annie Taylor - "The Fool" b/w "Unspoken"

Swiss label Taxi Gauche Records has been on a roll over the last year, releasing the awesome debut album from Brooklyn’s The Mary Vision, and a ton of other great music from bands that call Switzerland home. Included in that batch of excellent releases is Sweet Mortality, the debut album from Swiss Music Award nominees Annie Taylor. We discovered the Zürich-based quartet last month and immediately fell head over heels for their distinct brand of grunge-inspired indie rock. On Sweet Mortality, they quite eloquently blend the edgy snarl of grunge and punk with the more melodic elements of garage and psych in a way that reminds me of American west coast staples like Bleached, L.A. Witch, and Death Valley Girls. Frontperson Gini Jungi does a tremendous job leading the way, as her voice is incisive and clear, wavering between airy and defiant depending on the setting and what the song requires.

Earlier this week, the band shared a brand new double single called “The Fool” b/w “Unspoken,” which sees them entering the trippier realm of psychedelia and the opaque expanse of dream pop. Both tracks simmer as they approach emotional peaks, moving more deliberately at first before reaching some grand climaxes. The guitars on “The Fool” darkly creep along, getting progressively swirlier and fuzzier before reaching a storm of thunderous noise. “Unspoken” has a distinct Mazzy Star vibe to it, complete with angelically layered harmonies in the choruses, and guitars that slowly crescendo in intensity. It starts off a bit cleaner sounding and Jungi’s voice definitely plays a more critical role, as the song’s melody flows through her words, eventually intermingling with the dense instrumentation.

You can purchase “The Fool” b/w “Unspoken on Bandcamp. The songs are also available on all streaming platforms, including Spotify. Keep up with the band by following them on Instagram and liking them on Facebook.