Fi & Vex, aka The Black Mariah Theater, are twin sisters and two absolute forces of nature. They have a real knack for blending the raw energy of garage rock with gritty blues riffs and flashes of post-punk. Following the visceral It’s You (It’s Not Me), they revisit that mix on Fragile Little Heart, this time with an added melodic streak that makes the song instantly catchy.
The track revolves around a hypnotic, low-slung riff that keeps coming back without ever wearing out its welcome; if anything, each repetition gives it a little more weight and intensity. The minimalism and dry, no-frills production of The Kills is an obvious reference point, while Deap Vally are another clear touchpoint, especially in the way guitar and drums bounce off each other and fill the whole track. Still, The Black Mariah Theater have a much stronger pop instinct, and there are flashes of 90s female alt-rock creeping in here and there.
Fi’s performance strikes a great balance between restraint and attitude, and that really brings the track to life. In the verses, she plays with the phrasing and even slips in a slight funky edge, while the chorus opens up into something more melodic. Vex’s backing vocals add extra colour and give that section a few more shades.
It all comes from heartbreak and those feelings that stick around after a break-up, but by the end it feels much more about letting go than sitting with the hurt. The duo themselves invite you to pour yourself a drink, sing, dance and let out everything you’ve been holding in for far too long. As far as therapy goes, we’d definitely recommend it.
Perhaps that’s what The Black Mariah Theater do best, turning heartbreak and anger into something you can sing and dance to, then finally let go of. Because sometimes empowerment is simply about feeling it, letting it go and saying, “I’m done.”
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