SXSW Music Review: Husky Loops

Frantic mellow tantric came alive Tuesday night as Husky Loops activated a chunk of their slim but compact discography onstage at Seven Grand. The trio microdosed cross-sections of genre over twisting, tuning-fork arrangements.

Somewhere between intellect and instinct, they nudged dissonant wedges into mainstream sound and proved that disco thrust isn’t totally reliant on Moroder walls of sound. Pier Danio Forni squinted stiff riffs and vocals on top of Tommaso Medica’s low bass groove and Pietro Garrone’s almost inhuman, intensely accurate hi-hat work. Quick guitar flutters caulked the cracks of primed drums, underlined by pop-steady bass repetitions.

The mood they unspooled bounced off the bricks and well-lit whisky bottles immediately, but took some time to sink into the collective psyche. By the time they reached “Fighting Myself,” the rhythmic weight of their strict hectic sway stirred attendees to randomly whoop it up. Foot traffic increased as the band stayed the course.

Schooled in Bologna, located in London, Husky Loops split the difference between Mansun-esque Britpop and steady Schifrin style, while playing with measure-by-measure turns of phrasing and tricks of the tail, all with the health and efficiency of a well-groomed and presentable bring-home-to-mother This Heat.

Short on chatter, they moved quickly and confidently, song to song, leading up to their last catch-and-release number, an anthemic crawl with dropout drums and optimistic chords.

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Husky Loops

Tuesday, March 12, 9:50pm, Seven Grand