Chains of Love - Strange Grey Days
by Andrew Carver
published: 25 / 7 / 2012
Label:
Manimal Vinyl
Format: CD
intro
Scrappily-recorded, but well-performed debut album from 60's soul/girl group-influened debut album from Vancouver-based garage rockers, Chains of Love
Kicking off with the thumping backbeat and echoing vocals of ‘He’s Leaving (With Me)’ Chains of Love’s debut album ‘Strange Grey Days’ stakes its love of girl group soul early and often. The sentiments of ‘I’d Rather Be Crying’ and ‘Breaking My Heart’ wouldn’t be out of place on a Supremes or Shangri-Las single, although the nine-track album’s sonic qualities are less “Wall Of Sound” than ‘Well of Sound” - it sounds like it was recorded about 10 feet underground and half underwater. The group - a side project of noted Vancouver garage/punk record engineer Felix Fung - gets a lot of mileage out of the harmonies of Nathalia Pizarro and Rebecca Marie Law Gray (who also handles some of the guitar duties). Fans of doo-wop heartbreak and modern artists like Fabienne Delsol will find plenty to appreciate in tunes like ‘I’d Rather Be Crying’ and ‘Breaking My Heart’, while aficionados of bedroom pop will appreciate the one-take guitar sounds and organ breakdowns on tracks like ‘Lately’.
Track Listing:-
1 He's Leaving (with Me)2 All the Time
3 I'd Rather Be Crying
4 Lies Lies Lies
5 Mistake Lover
6 Lately
7 Strange Grey Days
8 Breaking My Heart
9 In Between
Band Links:-
http://chainsoflove.bandcamp.com/https://www.facebook.com/chainsofloveband
http://chainschainschains.tumblr.com/
Label Links:-
http://manimalvinyl.com/http://manimalvinyl.tumblr.com/
https://www.facebook.com/manimalrecords/
https://twitter.com/manimalvinyl
https://www.youtube.com/user/ManimalVinyl
live reviews |
|
Pressed,Ottawa, 9/6/2013 |
|
| Andrew Carver at Pressed in Ottawa watches 60's girl group-influenced act Chains of Love, with everything to prove, hold up their weight against the other two acts on a three band bill, explosive garage/new wave bands the Ketamines and Zebrasieres |
most viewed articles
current edition
Pennyblackmusic - Writers and Photographers' Albums of the Year 2024Peter Perrett - In Dreams Begin Responsibilities Interview Part One
Man From Delmonte - Interview
Clive Langer - Interview
Pennyblackmusic - Book of the Year Award 2024
Johnnie Johnstone - Interview
Marianne Faithfull - Reflections
Laura Nyro - Profile
Johny Brown - Corpse Flower
Vinyl Stories - Vinyl 2024
most viewed reviews
current edition
Dorie Jackson - Stupid Says RunRingo Starr - Look Up
Beabadoobee - This is How The World Moves
Pixie Lott - Encino
Dusty Springfield - The BBC Sessions
Unthanks - In Winter
Joan Armatrading - How Did This Happen and What Does It Mean?
Rosie Lowe - Lover, Other
Oïmiakon - Comptoir Des Vanites
Emily Burns - Die Happy
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart