After a string of excellent singles, ARXX are back with Good Boy. While the 18 months between it and its predecessor, Ride Or Die might be considered modest, it represents a lifetime of lessons for the duo.
From the highs of touring the globe and making their mark on the festival circuit, to the lows of undergoing vocal chord surgery, a lot has happened. And in the midst of these events, Hanni came out as non-binary and Clara – raised in Dubai, where homosexuality is still illegal – began to embrace her own queer identity. So…a LOT has happened.
But through all of these seismic changes, they – and all the emotions – are documented wonderfully on Good Boy. Channelled through their throwback, synth-heavy sound, ARXX convert these hugely personal experiences into an undeniably catchy record.
“This album is queer in its very nature; everything about it is queer and you can’t get away from it,” smiles Hanni. “The songs are very personal, and a celebration of being who you want to be in whatever way that manifests, and being fucking honest about it. By the time you get to your thirties, you think you should know yourself by now. But actually, you continue to learn about yourself the entire time.”
“Crying In The Carwash” kicks things off with a nostalgic sound that could fit perfectly in any John Hughes film. Accompanied by its shimmering drums and uptempo beat, plus the roaring guitar solo too, it sets the tone for how massive and anthemic the record is. I really enjoy the title, too. “Good Boy” also comes in with an equally bold performance, highlighting the power certain people have and how hard it is to break away from that mindset, once again filtered through this groovy instrumental.
Everything about the album just sounds so euphoric, and it’s embraced heavily on latest single “Swim”. Its larger than life sound is bolstered by warm synths that provide a jovial soundtrack to powerful lyrics that are heard throughout. Celebrating Hanni’s journey in self-realisation and acceptance, the song stands out as a real highlight.
“Like Hell” tears through the airwaves with its guitar-driven instrumental, leading into the Charli XCX flavoured “Trouble” that brings the brat energy as well as the light-hearted ARXX sound through a more electronic, experimental vibe.
Good Boy is a fantastic album. Not only is it loaded with some of the catchiest songs of the year, it’s also filled with tons of moments that make you understand what ARXX have been through over the last 18 months. All of the emotions, topics and themes are portrayed without diluting their impact, and not at the expense of the music too. It has been crafted brilliantly. You will be picking out different parts of it for many, many listens.