When we last heard from Casey Dienel (AKA White Hinterland), it was 2010 and she had just released Kairos, a hazy record that felt very much a product of its time. “Ring the Bell,” the first single released in anticipation of Baby, her next adventure, isn’t that different — in theory. It too sounds like a product of its time, riding the wave of strong female vocals, experimental loops, and a saxophone sound that just can’t find the door.
Really, though, “Ring the Bell” is a product of Dienel’s move back home, where she built a studio and self-taught herself how to produce records in an effort to buck the bullshit power dynamic that exists between male record producers and female artists. There’s certainly a confidence exuded on “Ring the Bell” that Dienel hasn’t shown before, and I can’t help but think that it reflects a state of newfound self-empowerment. Even amidst the collage of horns and vocal splices that threaten to over-run the track’s close, Dienel is right there, belting the louder for it.
April Fool’s Day marks the release of Baby. And while “Ring the Bell” doesn’t contain even an inkling of funny bone in its body, it is full to the brim with funky, celebratory fun.