In our ongoing quest to unearth those brilliant acts, that may fly under the radar, we stumble upon a delightful curiosity: Sugar for Bugs by The Army, the Navy.
At first glance, this record presents itself as a whimsical and ethereal waltz through an enchanted forest. You might be forgiven for thinking you’ve stumbled into a realm of delicate melodies and gentle harmonies. But as many of you will know, if you go against the advice of sage wizards and leave the path, there is often something darker lurking in the woods.
Beneath the initial sweetness lies a captivating complexity. The album delves deep into the human experience, offering poignant depictions of relationships, self-doubt, and delivering wry observations about life. All woven together with delightful discordant shifts and punctuated by unexpectedly offbeat vocal riffs that simultaneously invite the audience in and leave them wrong-footed.
Craft and Intention
There is a real craft and intention to everything on this record. This duo of Maia Ciambriello and Sasha Goldberg, certainly hit some beautifully sweet notes, and their voices intertwine in wonderfully restrained harmony, backed by subtle string arrangements. However, don’t let the sweetness fool you, because driving rhythm and distorted guitars also await you in the wonderful psychedelic glade conjured by The Army, the Navy. It’s an aural landscape that shifts and surprises, keeping you utterly engaged.
The record also contains straight up excellent writing throughout. Take, for instance, some of my favourite lines from Rocket: “I’m as tired as a flame under a rocket.” A striking image of exhaustion. “You were never proud of me.” Raw and honest. “I remain with the people I have chosen,” a powerful statement of self-determination. And the beautifully melancholic “I cherish things in boxes I don’t open.” Then there’s the feverish intensity of Curse the Man: “I have got a fever, I get reckless when you get even.” These lyrical snippets offer glimpses into the emotional core of the album.
It’s also incredibly pleasing how they scan their words, not always following predictable paths (the recurring theme of this record – that the best things can happen on the road not taken), not always conventionally going where you think the words will go. This lyrical dexterity perfectly compliments the way the songs make dynamic shifts within each track, revealing new layers with each listen.
An Accomplished and Understated Triumph
Sugar for Bugs is, in the end, an accomplished and understated triumph. It’s a record that rewards repeated exploration, revealing its hidden depths and solidifying The Army, the Navy’s place as a truly unique and compelling voice in the independent music scene. Don’t let this gem remain hidden in the woods – venture off the beaten path and discover its magic for yourself.
The World Outside the Window 