Girl and Girl, an Australian quartet, burst onto the indie rock scene with their Sub Pop debut, Call A Doctor, an album that feels like a much-needed jolt of raw emotion and musical electricity. In an era where sincerity can feel manufactured, Girl and Girl deliver an authentic outpouring of feeling, reminiscent of the early, visceral work of Car Seat Headrest and the emotionally charged anthems of Bright Eyes. Led by the introspective songwriting of Kai James, the band doesn’t shy away from tackling weighty themes – mental health struggles and the anxieties of modern existence – all wrapped in a sonic package that is both timelessly classic and strikingly current. This is not just background music; Call A Doctor demands your attention, grabbing you with its audacious melodies and unflinching honesty.
From humble beginnings jamming in a garage, Girl and Girl’s trajectory feels both organic and destined. Guitarist Jayden Williams and frontman Kai James laid the foundation for the band in Williams’ mother’s garage, a classic origin story for countless rock bands. The serendipitous addition of Aunty Liss on drums solidified their unique sound. Initially just offering to fill in temporarily, Aunty Liss’s compelling presence and rhythmic drive became indispensable. “It sounded really great,” James recalls, highlighting the immediate chemistry. Her initial temporary commitment transformed into a permanent role, adding a distinctive and powerful element to their music. With the final piece, bassist Fraser Bell, in place, Girl and Girl embarked on their journey, quickly making waves beyond their Australian roots. Word-of-mouth buzz propelled them to Sub Pop Records, a label synonymous with groundbreaking indie music.
The creation of Call A Doctor was a whirlwind of focused energy. Recorded in intense, marathon sessions within a two-story industrial space over a tight two-week period, the album’s urgency and rawness are palpable. Producer Burke Reid guided this frenetic creative process, and James notes that the pressure cooker environment directly influenced the album’s sound. “I can hear the stress in the record,” he admits, and this tension is not a flaw, but a defining characteristic, perfectly mirroring the album’s lyrical themes of internal struggle and anxiety. This intensity translates into an album that feels urgent and alive, capturing the band at their most potent.
The eleven tracks on Call A Doctor are a diverse collection, showcasing Girl and Girl’s range and musical dexterity. From expansive guitar-driven epics to introspective acoustic moments, and from sharp punk bursts to the kind of endearing, unpolished indie-pop reminiscent of K Records legends, the album refuses to be pigeonholed. These songs are deeply personal, drawn from Kai James’s own experiences and reworked from older recordings. The lyrics reflect both past hardships and the anxieties that surfaced as the band began to gain traction. “I’ve struggled with mental health for a lot of my life,” James reveals, adding context to the album’s emotional core. The pressure of rising expectations amplified these existing struggles during the album’s creation, adding another layer of authenticity to the music.
Far from buckling under pressure, Call A Doctor is a testament to Girl and Girl’s resilience and artistic growth. The album doesn’t sound like a band collapsing, but rather a band rising to the occasion with full force. Listening to it, you’re struck by the sheer vitality of the music; it’s as if Girl and Girl are playing right in the room with you. The lead single, “Hello,” explodes from the speakers, driven by Aunty Liss’s dynamic drumming. James describes the song as an exploration of “romanticizing your own misery,” delving into the seductive comfort of negative thought patterns and the paradoxical familiarity of stress and worry.
“Mother” injects a shot of energy with a spiky, driving groove, echoing the sound of New Zealand’s legendary Flying Nun bands. “Oh Boy” takes cues from The Shins’ jangly melodies, infused with James’s distinctive, slightly edgy vocal delivery. Perhaps the album’s centerpiece is “Maple Jean and the Anthropocene,” a sprawling five-minute track that offers a unique perspective on climate change and personal suffering. James recounts the song’s genesis: “I live in the bushland, and I was driving home one night and hit and killed a wallaby with my car.” His initial reaction, devoid of guilt and filled with self-centeredness – “What is the universe trying to tell me?” – became the song’s central theme. It’s a stark and honest examination of human egocentrism and the tendency to see oneself as the main character in every narrative.
“This record is about an individual who’s too far in their head, trying to get out,” James summarizes, offering a glimpse into the album’s overarching narrative and his personal headspace during its creation. However, despite the weighty themes and introspective lyrics, Call A Doctor is ultimately an album brimming with life. Girl and Girl inject a bold and brazen humor into their music, a brightness that cuts through the darkness, making it utterly captivating. This is music that embraces vulnerability, finding beauty and even joy in the midst of struggle. Feeling down has rarely, if ever, sounded this compelling and, dare we say, good.
