Little Death Wishes

The freak-folk mavericks venture boldly into an even newer, weirder America on their eighth studio album, the sister duo’s first full-length since 2020’s <i>Put the Shine On</i>. Now 20-plus years into their collaborative career, Bianca and Sierra Casady sound as whimsically baroque and more-than-slightly creepy as ever on <i>Little Death Wishes</i>, wondering exactly whose dream they’re living in on existential synth-pop jam “Cut Stitch Scar”, and tinkering with children’s toys on the grisly “Yesterday”, (The duo also deserve some credit for their hand in pioneering the folksy affect known as “cursive singing”, which has permeated the past 15 years of pop vocals.) There’s an unexpected cameo from Chance the Rapper on the sickly-sweet “Girl in Town”, but the highlight is “Least I Have You”, a celebration of the sisters’ enduring bond: “If no one in the world understands, at least I have you.”