Swivel Chairs: The Slow Transmission

Posted by Champersnova in Reviews on 12 17th, 2007 | no responses |

ISTANBUL – Swivel Chairs is a Brookyln and Philedelphia based band featuring Jason Brown and Jeremy Grites. Their consistency to music brought them together to follow the melodies coming out from their hearts when they were dormitory suit-mates back in 1992. So far, they have released handful records including; full length albums, EPs, compilations and split releases (with Audible, The Banes, Matty Charles & The Valentines). The Slow Transmission is the second full length album coming out from this duo. An absolute easy listening combining powerpop with folk-rock and alt-country sways.

As to The Slow Transmission, you could say Swivel Chairs are a tanquil band just fitting with the name. All tracks sound quite calm, clear and somewhat nerveless. Still, the form of the record as a full is pretty flexible. One moment it feels like listening to a modern Uncle Tupelo, then it sounds like +/- and the next it is something like The New Pornographers. Some may complain about this variabilty – ones who are relatively conservative with their genres- but to me it is something to be praised about the record, because each variety seems to be balanced and eagerly clicked to each other from where I am standing.

First track, Here Out of Reach is an appropriate opener, with the mellow powerpop fragments all over the tune. Cello contributions in between gives a richer feel to it, forerunning the upcoming instrumental diversity.

Swivel Chairs The powerpop atmosphere is to be felt very often in the rest of the record. All At Once, Just A Little Girl, Breaking Up and Afterthought could be classified in this section. Afterthought in particular, is an upbeat, snappy and entertaining piece thanks to the live drum beats running behind.

The ongoing catchy-pop wave balks to change places with a relatively experimentalist sound; Clockwise. A short instrumental tune, musically harmonic with the general sound of The Slow Transmission in my opinion. Though, I am not sure about how this little experimenting would be received by powerpop / alt-country diggers. As for me, well I really like it. I think it is the best moment in the album along with December Ghosts. Similarly, December Ghosts could be rated as an experimental tune (comparing to the whole record!) with the chilling dense depth flowing over. Some of you might find this comparison irrelevant but vocals on December Ghosts does really remind me of John Bramwell of I Am Kloot. Probably this and the dense depth explains why this one is my favorite.

Easy Now is one of those alt-country weighted tracks making me think The Jayhawks meeting Wilco. In a very softy, catchy way for sure. Same catchiness and folk-rock breeze goes for Sun Goes Down, Caloused Hands and 10 G (Say So) as well. Especially the banjo assistance in Caloused Hands makes this one probably the warmest track in the album, giving a summery Mediterranean-esque feel. I have to tell that this song have me recalled The Decemberists just a little too.

Excluding December Ghosts (cause that is way too different than these two); Let’s Get Down to Earth and Wasting Time are the slowest bits of The Slow Transmission. Let’s Get Down to Earth is an impressive ballad where Wasting Time is a typical closing tune with no surprises.

The music journey Jason Brown and Jeremy Grites has launched 15 years ago is going on full throttle; with the contributons of Ed Hogarty, Mike Kennedy and Steve Cawley today. Their latest release, The Slow Transmission could be a good opportunity to get to know them, for those looking for peace in music represented by a hybrid sound binding alt-country and powerpop together.

Swivel Chairs – December Ghosts