Ones to watch. New music on Ovi: Chapel Club

Right now, Chapel Club have a single out called ‘Surfacing’. The album ‘Palace‘ will probably be out by the time you read this. ‘Surfacing’ is great. The album is great. The most curious thing about ‘Surfacing’ is that the lyrics to its chorus were written about 60 years before singer ...

Right now, Chapel Club have a single out called ‘Surfacing’. The album ‘Palace‘ will probably be out by the time you read this. ‘Surfacing’ is great. The album is great. The most curious thing about ‘Surfacing’ is that the lyrics to its chorus were written about 60 years before singer Lewis Bowman was born. That’s not the most remarkable thing however, about ‘Surfacing’. What’s most remarkable is how the band makes these words their own.  It’s gut-wrenching and seemingly dark in its subject matter but it’s also massively euphoric.

It’s not a cover but, for whatever reason, Lewis has adapted the words from Ozzie Nelson’s “Dream A Little Dream”. You might know it better from the versions by Mama Cass, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong or Doris Day (or the many others). Either way it’s a very pleasing collision of the modern with the classic and begs repeat listens for the rush when the verse dives and then skyrockets into the chorus.

That’s not to say the rest of the album is over shadowed by this one track. No way – it’s a great collection. There are further excellent singles and album tracks to be enjoyed here. ‘Five Trees’ gallops along, with the feedback expertly ridden by way of one of the guitar’s pickup selectors. ‘All The Eastern Girls’ chorus swoops in without warning.  ‘O Maybe I’ expertly channels The Smiths, if I’m forced to make a lazy comparison.

Speaking of lazy comparisons, there’s plenty of talk how this band is the new White Lies, Editors or Joy Division. They’re not. This band that have managed to carve themselves a very distinct identity with their debut album ‘Palace’. They might share some sonic similarities with the bands I mention but when it comes to melancholy in the music, Chapel Club don’t wallow in misery, they make a noise that sounds hopeful, reflective and defiantly joyful. Hopefully you’ll get as much of a kick out of it as I do.

P.S. I am so looking forward to seeing these guys play here in the UK, in Bristol. I’ll let you know how it goes…

Source : http://blog.ovi.com/2011/01/31/ones-to-watch-new-m...