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Reviews

Pure X, ‘Pleasure’ (Acéphale)

Changing their name from Pure Ecstasy marks no major stylistic shift for this Austin trio, but the new moniker is more than just drug shorthand. That “X” highlights the Sadean relationship between ugliness and beauty underlying the band’s full-length debut. Pleasure‘s ten tracks of gorgeously distorted, lo-fi pop glides languidly enough for ’90s slowcore, but with woozy rhythms, lovelorn lyrics, and reverb-saturated textures that feel timeless. “Ooh, baby, I want every piece of you,” singer-guitarist Nate Grace begins. Love hurts.