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general, many of the songs all give off a strange, ethereal vibe, making them more
suited for the soundtrack of a David Lynch film than for a dance club. Yet if there were
any doubts as to the danceability of the
album, frontwoman Caroline Polachek, wearing a skin tight suit and a stoic expression — offers a captivating dance to the
track “Amanaemonesia” in the video for the
single. While most of the songs on “Some-
thing” are about being in love, one would be remiss to call them love songs.
Chairlift’s simultaneously disaffected and
affectionate sensibility breathes hip new life into well-worn territory, sounding
heavily influenced by but never derivative of the genre.
lishes the band’s jaunty but murky elec-
tronic soundscape in a catchy song about vehicular manslaughter. Recognition also
must be given to instrumentalist Patrick
Wimberly and producers Dan Carey and Alan
The airy synthesized instrumentation and production-heavy tracks are both staples
of the chillwave genre, but “Something” offers more than the typical fare with Polachek’s strong vocals. Her range and
emotionality are similar that of an R&B
star, albeit transposed onto an electropop indie darling from the 1980s. Her persona
reflects the nature of the band’s music, being as influenced by Kate Bush as by Feist. The band’s unique sound comes from the way in
which their influences are amalgamated. At the album’s best moments, the band seems
to channel these influences toward creating truly ambitious and infectious tunes. The
|ˌnēəˈterik|
opening track, “Sidewalk Safari,” estab-
chairlift
Moulder for the slick beats. Polachek, as wonderful as her voice is, knows when to let the sound of the song take the forefront. She does not quite let go vocally
until “I Belong In Your Arms,” probably
the strongest and most straightfor ward
pop track on the album. With traces of A-ha
and Blondie, the song is the stuff of musical addiction. “I Belong In Your Arms” is
currently available for free as the iTunes Single of the Week. “Something” is not lacking in great single-worthy tracks.
“Ghost Tonight,” “Amanaemonesia” and “Met Before” all help set the catchy, art-pop
Chairlift sound in stone — a sound I hope to hear more of in future albums.
CHA SIMU DISAF AFFE SENS BREAT LIFE TORN S O U H E INF BY DER OF