SG84: Coward Syndrome - Xanax and Horses [LP]
Coward Syndrome is the Paris, France based lo-fi alternative rock project of Victor Anastasio. Known for their mesmerizing pitch-bent guitars and time-stretched drums, Coward Syndrome’s sound is evocative yet stylistically meticulous, oscillating between a myriad of textures and shades that gesture to both 80’s/90’s new wave as well as modern rock. Anastasio released their self-titled LP back in 2023 after signing to Spirit Goth, showcasing bright, yet stunningly edgy melodies; tracks like the upbeat, brooding “Itches” and the slower, murkier “Extra Utero” showed Anastasio’s balanced interests in capturing both light and shadow.
Xanax and Horses, in comparison, is darker, heavier, leaning more into the lush, yet mercurial atmosphere of coldwave and darkwave. The instrumentals are narratives in and of themselves; the guitar in “Black Cleopatra Eyes” and “Cursed” are equal parts stark and striking, while the synth work in the stunning instrumental “Rain in June” simulates the hypnotizing, yet calculated glare of strobelight. “Venetian Day,” featuring vocals from Sofia Anastasio and Alexandra Anastasio, is a tenebrous take on dream pop, soundtracking something ethereal, ultimately unable to be named. The slightly eerie, yet mostly ruminative closer “Sleeping in the Woods” is perhaps the most representative of this, however; rather than exist as a simple conclusion to the eight-track album, instead, the song feels remarkably close to an entry point into yet another world.
SG84: Coward Syndrome - Xanax and Horses [LP]