aaamusic | On 18, Apr 2011

 

“London’s Chapel Club offer a slightly poppier take on the Jesus and Mary Chain/My BloodyEntertainment Focus- interview to runValentine-patented noise pop, and are able to unleash beautiful swirling guitar blasts…” The Guardian”

Chapel Club follow their acclaimed debut album ’Palace’ and sold out UK tour with a new single on May 16th. ‘Blind’ is taken from the LP and will be marked with a free one-off show exclusively for Facebook fans on May 18th at the venue that started it all – Dalston’s hidden ‘acid rasta’ dancehall The Shacklewell Arms. For a band that made their name playing off-the-wall venues – including warehouses and artists’ living rooms – it’s a fitting nod to what they call a ‘crazy, incredible, nightmarish, amazing’ first eighteen months.

The past year has seen the London-based five-piece rise from massive (and unexpected) media buzz at the end of 2009 to cement their place as one of the country’s most promising and surprising new acts. They’ve bagged accolades in NME (for ‘The Shore’ and ‘Widows’), released a series of diverse singles and finally released their debut album the feverishly anticipated ‘Palace’ earlier this year.

Along the way they’ve grown into a formidable live act capable of matching moments of stark emotional intimacy with blistering, high octane anthems – and they’ve continued to toy with expectations at every turn, whether by refusing to play the same old venues when they first emerged, giving away free demos and works in progress via their website (under the moniker Dark River Archive), posting startlingly honest apologias on their blog or releasing the game-changing ‘Wintering’ EP even before their debut record had hit the shops. It doesn’t amount to your typical career path, but then Chapel Club aren’t your typical band.

In the meantime, the critics are switched on to the forces at Chapel Club’s command. The grand sweep of the music and the boldness of Bowman’s lyrical reminiscences on ‘Palace’ drew much praise: Q said “There’s more to their explorations of love and longing than a relentless angst downpour”, while The Guardian were similarly hooked, stating that “Bowman’s razorblades-in-honey vocal is impossible to tire of, and the band’s My Bloody Valentine guitars shimmer and shudder in all the right places.” Shortlist was wowed when the album hit: “This is one the most assured debuts we’ve heard in a long while.” Chapel Club’s turbulent, tantalising chapter one was written.

With a whirlwind tour of the US (including several appearances at this year’s South by South West festival) recently completed, and the band currently playing to hundreds across Europe, ‘Blind’ marks the end of a hectic first half of 2011 for the band. By playing this intimate, intense show at Dalston’s Shacklewell Arms – the venue where they played their first ever gigs and unwittingly sparked an A&R scramble – the band want to say thank you to the fans who helped to make their first year so momentous.

The months beyond will see the band appear at various festivals in the UK and Europe, as well as playing three shows at the Brixton O2 Academy on May 19th/20th/21st as the special guests of Suede.

‘Blind’ is released on digital download on May16th and will be available as a limited 7” through Loog /Polydor. The Shacklewell Arms gig takes place on May 18th and will be free entry for competition winners. Competition details available on the bands Facebook page, www.facebook.com/chapelclub

www.chapelclub.com
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