SMALL BLACK - New Chain

Jagjaguwar

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Less than a couple of years back, Josh Kolenik and Ryan Heyner ferreted themselves away to Long Island each weekend to write some music. From this, Small Black was born and the fruits of their labours would become their self titled EP released last year. Headed by the excellent single 'Despicable Dogs', the EP gained instant blog cred with many impressed by their ability to thread together elements of 80s synth pop, new wave, shoegaze and hip hop and create their own uniquely lo-fi sound. Their debut LP New Chain followed the same songwriting process, but this time Kolenik and Heyner enlisted Juan Pieczanski and Jeff Curtin, got out of Brooklyn and secluded themselves away in suburban Delaware to construct the records foundations. Its a dense but at times cavernous affair, detached yet warm and packed full of layered casio dominated synths.  Peppered with dreamy melodies, killer hooks and backed by an array of giant programmed beats, the homespun DIY feel of the EP is definitely still there but this time around the studio wizardry of Nicholas Vernhes (Animal Collective) from Rare Book Room was called upon to add a definite sheen to round out the sound.

And of that nostalgic sound. The independent music influences of the 80s are unmistakable and run from the dream and ethereal new wave pop of Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Cocteau Twins, Art of Noise, Depeche Mode and The Cure, to the shoegaze of My Bloody Valentine and through the beat programming, the hip hop and rap influences of Public Enemy and De La Soul among others. But what stands out about New Chain is in combining all these influences and creating something new, it sports a chameleon like quality. Not one track rests on its laurels and each contains a surprise packet or two.

But what impresses apart for the transformations made in melody and texture is the subtle nature of this record. Careful listens will reward as a plethora of synth driven sounds are layered and assembled with great skill and precision and none overstay their welcome, none dominate. Even the lasting hooks that are the identifiers of each track sit appropriately where they belong - simply a sum of many parts. Added to those parts is the quality of Kolenik's breathy vocals, an essential element that gives New Chain its dreamy and at times otherworldly feel. What is also impressive about New Chain is its consistency. While the undoubted immediacy of accessibility rests in the first half of the album with The Cure (Disintegration era) inspired opener 'Camouflage', the warped funk of 'Search Party' and the warm spectral loop, deep bass and chugging rhythm of 'Photojournalist', other gems abound for the patient.

'Hydra' begins sparsely with effectively eastern sounding chords before opening up its pop elements. A singular casio and Kolenik's airy voice take centre stage on 'Crisp 100s' as the incessant patter of programmed drums quietly taps away. This track in particular is illustrative of the aforementioned transformative character inherent in each track. The approach above gives way to two separate hooks that bear little resemblance to where it began.  'Goons' is a big track in every sense but its alarmist synth sound and massive beat is calmed by its undertonal elements giving its a subtle feel despite the apparent bombast. 'Light Curse' ebbs away and rests on Kolenik's vocals. The title track is a hook laden piece of pure pop brilliance while the slowdance number 'Panthers' is a big tease as its unforgettable main hook takes what seems forever to fully form and when it does its understatedness somehow gives it extra power.

Small Black are often superficially and unfairly associated with dark more than light, with cold more than warmth. One online blog actually labelled the album as one that 'creeps about'! However, a few attentive listens to New Chain soon smashes those associations. Such associations are easy ones to make (well maybe that last one's a stretch) without doing the (not so) hard yards and exploring deep beneath the multi-faceted layered approach that Small Black bring to their music. Yes, there are shades of dark at work but New Chain is an overwhelmingly warm album, an almost blissful affair at times albeit a uniquely intriguing type of bliss. The subtleties and transformations at work in each track where almost simultaneously light readily overshadows dark is indicative of a musical intelligence that demands more than a surface glance from the listener. It also allows Small Black to stand out among their peers. Bands who have the ability to make such demands of their listeners are bands that will stay the journey. There is little doubt that New Chain has put Small Black among them. A stunning debut.

James Stocker - November 13, 2010.

Camouflage (Live)

Small Black (USA)

From the album, 'New Chain', Jagjaguwar. Live on Fader TV. 5/11/10

Photojournalist (Live)

Small Black (USA)

From the album, 'New Chain', Jagjaguwar. Live on Fader TV. 5/11/10

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