Rating: 8.1/10
School of Seven Bells' debut album, Alpinisms marks yet another great band riding the growing popularity of electronic dream-pop. With swarms of synthesizers mixed with shoegaze guitarwork and a tech-beat foundation, their blend of sounds is truly ear candy. Given their apparent influences of their counterparts, M83, it came to no surprise that they've been touring along side Anthony Gonzales and Co.. Given their love for synths and an undeniable rhythm staggering those who watech them perform, it would be easy to categorize the trio as one in the same with M83, but their dual vocals and smooth transitions make for an enjoyable listen.
Not only do the Brooklyn-based band's female vocals have such a big impact on the album, but the rhythms and flow of the entire album is seamlessly pieced together. Although the group insists the vocals may be their only vice on the album with its seemingly layered upon layered tracks, the twin sisters, Alejandra and Claudia Deheza, are entrancing as are the talents that lie with the defunct Secret Machines mastermind, Benjamin Curtis. In tracks such as "Connjur" or "My Cabal", the words are chanted as if the due are in a trance, spinning deeper into the synth web they've carefully crafted.
Perhaps the album's timeliness of the album as the seasons turn that made this album much more attractive. Its true that this is no summer album, one that is uplifting in the jovial sense, but compliments the falling leaves and the swirling winds as Winter will soon be upon us. Curtis, who pieced together the three-member band may have slipped these ambient soundscapes right into my conciousness given this seasonal atmosphere. With The Radio Dept fresh on my mind, School of Seven Bells follows a similar path, preying on their strengths, using the vocals as the stronghold. The dillusionary themes about dreams and hallucinations throughout their album push their sound deeper down a winding dark hole, pushing harmonizing levels off the charts.
Now with Winter on its way, the dreary, dreamlike days seem to pass by as the year-end approach and this album couldn't be any more fitting. This album is beautiful from start to finish, and may be one of this years greatest albums to fly under the radar. We highly recommend you pick this one up or buy it on iTunes.
MP3: School of Seven Bells - Connjur (buy)
MP3: School of Seven Bells - Half Asleep (buy)
Official - www.schoolofsevenbells.com/
MySpace - www.myspace.com/schoolofsevenbells
Remaining Your Dates:
Nov 18 2008 10:00P - Middle East Downstairs w/ M83 Boston, Massachusetts
Nov 19 2008 8:00P - Studio Juste Pour Rire w/ M83 Montreal, Quebec
Nov 20 2008 8:00P - Opera House w/ M83 Toronto, Ontario
Nov 21 2008 8:00P - Bottom Lounge w/ M83 Chicago, Illinois
Nov 22 2008 10:00P - Triple Rock Social Club w/ M83 Minneapolis, Minnesota
Nov 25 2008 8:00P - Neumos w/ M83 Seattle, Washington
Nov 26 2008 7:30P - Richard’s on Richards w/ M83 Vancouver, British Columbia
Nov 27 2008 9:00P - Doug Fir Lounge w/ M83 Portland, Oregon
Nov 28 2008 8:00P - The Fillmore w/ M83 San Francisco, California
Nov 29 2008 10:00P - Henry Fonda Theater w/ M83 Los Angeles, California
Dec 15 2008 8:00P - Mercury Lounge New York, New York
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