w h o k i l l

Released in 2011 on 4AD, w h o k i l l represents the pivotal moment when Merrill Garbus transitioned tUnE-yArDs from a lo-fi bedroom project into a formidable studio force. Recorded at New, Improved Studios in Oakland, the album retains the signature vocal-looping technique of her debut but adds professional engineering and the crucial addition of bassist Nate Brenner. This collaboration introduced a funk and Afrobeat-influenced foundation that transformed the songs into rhythmic powerhouses. The album is notable for its use of the ukulele, which Garbus treats more like a distorted electric guitar than a folk instrument. Critically, it was a massive success, topping the Village Voice's Pazz & Jop poll and cementing Garbus as a leading voice in the early 2010s indie landscape. Its themes of urban decay and personal identity are delivered through a unique sonic lens that remains difficult to categorize, blending the primitive with the highly sophisticated.