Pom Pom Squad had a remarkably clear aesthetic and sound for their punchy early EPs (Hate it Here, 2018, Ow, 2019) and debut album (Death of a Cheerleader, 2021). Punky hits of adrenaline that always snuck in a catchy chorus and Mia Berrin’s wild cheerleader style made for a fun ride, but as predicted by her debut album’s title, there was always a shelf life to that stage of the project. Enter: Mirror Starts Moving Without Me.

Across this sophomore album, Berrin et al try out some new looks, showing off the new sheen on their production immediately on ‘Downhill’ with clean, double-tracked vocals and disco beats. ‘The Tower’ is of a piece with Melodrama-era Lorde, though with much heavier guitars. The unspooling story reveals a complicated picture of neuroses, picking up on the Alice in Wonderland theme more directly than elsewhere. But the lyrical skill (as opposed to Berrin’s previous inclination towards chants and one-liners) is also evident in acoustic slowburners like ‘Everybody’s Moving On’ or the intimate ‘Montauk.’

However, the squad still know how to rock out. ‘Villain’ is a cross between the martial production of Yeezus and the lurching creep of Billie Eilish. It’s a two-minute slab of industrial punk with a smeared lipstick smirk. And the cheerleader chants aren’t completely gone, as heard in the ’90s-indebted synth stabs of ‘Street Fighter.’ And sometimes Berrin splits the difference, like on peppy alt-rocker ‘Messaged’, where she shows her melodic vocal chops (oft obscured in the past) while still riding on propulsive, grungey chords.

While previous Pom Pom Squad felt like whiplash-inducing, freewheeling miniatures that barely had time to register before the next hit, Mirror gives the listener a lot more to chew on, both lyrically and musically. There’s time for reflection and to dip a toe through the looking glass, but Berrin’s ear for hooks and energetic presence make sure things never drag.