Oscar Bravo Juliett is an explosive conclusion to an excellent trilogy of bluesy alternative rock releases from wht.rbbt.obj
Known for their smart releases that unfurl like coded messages and a fierce, bluesy rock sound that is packed full of moments that range from the cinematic, to the urgent, to the thoughtful, wht.rbbt.obj are led by husband and wife duo Frank Rabbitte (The Architect) and River Rabbitte (The Femme Fatale), and their new album Oscar Bravo Juliette is the third and final piece of their ambitious NATO Call Sign Trilogy of releases.
The album opens with the immersive ‘Fallout/Shelter’, a soft, yet foreboding track that has the kind of quiet intensity that wouldn’t feel out of place in some of the more pensive and reflective moments of movies like Kill Bill. The track feels like a perfect introduction to an album that goes to more far-reaching and ambitious places as it develops, but sets the tone in an endlessly compelling and thoughtful way that leaves a rousing impression from the off.
A more fully-formed and all-encompassing side of their sound comes to the fore on ‘Monsters of Nothing’, a track that showcases their more rock-edged, bluesy tendencies while maintaining this cinematic and atmospheric sense of scope that makes everything feel so grand and exciting. River’s vocals in particular shine on this track, while the instrumentation does a great job of providing an exciting foundation for them to build off.
‘Broken Luck’ is a track that has a southern charm to it throughout, with emphasis on the storytelling aspects of the sound and a narrative of regret and falling upon hard times. The emotion and drive in the vocals does a great job of articulating this struggle and makes for another truly compelling listen, topped off by a timeless guitar solo.
The smoky and rebellious glow of ‘Daddy Lollipop’ makes for captivating listening, with a brooding bassline that underscores a seductive sound that melds distorted guitars with swaggering rhythms and an aura of confidence and self-assurance. This sense of aura and confidence follows right the way through to ‘Cash on Delivery’, a similarly sultry and driven track that packs a powerhouse of a chorus and infectiously bluesy Hendrix-esque riffs.
The confessional ‘Secrets’ is a track that has a dark underbelly to it throughout, with an atmospheric tension bubbling beneath the surface as themes like deception and lust are explored against another fuzzy and immersive backdrop, making for a track that burns with a captivating and illicit edge.
‘Low Key’ provides the album with its stripped-back acoustic moment, taking a tender moment to celebrate the little private moments that you have in a relationship, being able to spend time together without the cares and worries of the outside world and existing in a little bubble for a night. There is a really resonating and thoughtful charm to the track and the way that it develops, and it makes for a very human and raw moment in an album that is packed full of intrigue and hidden messaging.
Things kick back into life on ‘Tailspin Radio’, a track memorable for its hard-hitting chorus that has a similar kind of frenetic and heavy energy as Bummer-era Cleopatrick, making for a really creative juxtaposition to its more conversational verses, bringing the noise in emphatic fashion. Another great showcase of the depth and unpredictability of their sound and style.
The album closes out with ‘I Get Stuck’, a fierce modern rock banger that allows the vocalist and band alike to really push towards the most cathartic and explosive reaches of their sound as it reaches its most emphatic moments. Themes like claustrophobia and finding yourself stuck or trapped add to the intensity of the track, feeling somewhat nostalgic and timeless while having a truly modern and dynamic edge.
This collection of tracks provides a truly satisfying and memorable conclusion to the EP’s that preceded it. “We built this trilogy like a code. Whiskey Hotel Tango was the signal. Romeo Bravo Bravo Tango was the transmission. Oscar Bravo Juliett is the detonation. It’s not just an album—it’s the final order.” Frank Rabbitte says, and there is an urgency and sense of vibrancy and life to these tracks that emboldens this statement and gives it a really powerful edge. The distorted guitars and powerhouse vocals really do feel like an explosion of sound and creativity, and it makes for a listen that’s as compelling, fresh and exciting as anything you’re likely to hear this year.
