I-Tunes Single of the Week Review: An Horse’s ‘Dressed Sharply’

Apparently, Apple doesn’t discriminate against bad grammar, as iTunes gives “An Horse” the free single of the week spotlight with “Dressed Sharply.”

The Australian indie pop duo released their sophomore album, “Walls,” this week with “Dressed Sharply” as the album’s opener. Comprised of guitarist/vocalist Kate Cooper and drummer Damon Cox, “An Horse” pounds out a sound bigger than one might expect from the rather scraggy looking couple.

Since 2008, just before their first album, “Rearrange Beds,” was released, they’ve been opening for major headliners such as Tegan and Sara, “Death Cab for Cutie,” “Silversun Pickups,” and “Cage the Elephant,” giving them the perfect demographic to perform to.

Cox gives the song its structure with well-placed triplets on a pulsating kick drum, save for a couple rests that provide depth to Cooper’s voice. His backing vocals are a bit hidden in the mixing but affectionately support his counterpart.

Cooper and her Aussie accent produce strong yet austere -though certainly not hollow – vocals. She cryptically tells a story about writing letters to an unidentified recipient. This may be an anecdote of a long-distance relationship, alluded to in the second verse with, “You get up when I go to sleep but / that’s just me and geography.”

“Dressed Sharply,” is a smart and well written song, but its vocal choreography is lacking. Too often Cooper’s voice comes across as slightly missing the popular quirky platform without landing on a solid, or progressive, replacement footing. However, the chorus, whose meaning completely eludes me, is phenomenally captivating and illustrates Cooper’s strongest moment.

Musically, the song demands an insatiable toe tapping and a sing-along to the “oohs” in the last chorus. It’s well worth the free download, and the paid one too.

Although “An Horse’s” new single comes off sounding a bit amateurish, don’t write them off. As their sound develops they will surely steal the headline stage.