Front cover of ‘How Does It Feel’

by Matthew Langham

New York duo MS MR, consisting of Lizzy Plapinger and Max Hershenow, return with their follow-up to their 2013 debut Secondhand Rapture which featured the alternative-pop hit ‘Hurricane’. While they aren’t considerably well known and are considered hard to place in the alternative pop landscape, Plapinger is probably best known for owning New York label Neon Gold – which released early records by Haim and Marina & The Diamonds.

Similar to their debut, How Does It Feel is sugar-coated in a glossy electronic pop sheen, which although engaging, lacks the same intensity as previous singles. Kicking off with ‘Painted’ and ‘Criminals’ the multi-layered house inspired vocals are backed by a heavy bass led rhythm section. It’s a strong start but it becomes a bit monotone and repetitive by ‘Tripolar’ and ‘Tunnels’ as you realise that MS MR have absolutely no intention of expanding the boundaries of their debut. Almost like a toned down Florence Welch in vocal style, Plapinger often fails to vocally engage with the listener especially on the downbeat tracks, including album closer ‘All The Things Lost’. There’s simply no sense of things being at stake on How Does It Feel, and the ultimate lack of sincerity prevents it from being more than an instantly disposable, two-star experience.

That said, there are a couple of diamonds in the rough that will provide at least slim pickings for playlist miners. Trip-hop influenced ‘Wrong Victory’ provides the highlight of the album and sets the emotive and vocal benchmark for what should be expected by MS MR, one that goes sadly unfulfilled. As a full body of work it is a lacklustre and anticlimactic follow-up from the duo, but there are odd glimpses of what they are capable of at their peak. There is a distinct sense of uncertainty on this record and unfortunately they have missed the mark. (4/10)

Listen to How Does It Feel here!