aaamusic | On 20, Apr 2011

[cincopa AgKARm6_Go4V]

Rome, 9th April

Chapel Club need no introduction, it’s a hot night in Rome, gardens of Circolo degli Artisti are flourishing and I have been waiting for this gig for a long time. So I won’t say other words and I’ll start talking about their amazing gig.

The band gets on stage drawing the audience attention with a long instrumental intro, to introduce themselves and rising the expectation, so they kick off with Surfacing, one of the most beautiful tracks of Palace, their debut album, as if they are not afraid of people who are looking at them, showing their music impudently, sure of their bravura.

The guitar is the most precious element inside their songs, Chapel Club melt The Smiths atmospheres and walls of reverbs of My Bloody Valentine, it’s genial how they use the guitar slide, creating an immediate shoegaze effect and a wall of distortions that perfectly match the warm singer’s vocals, he looks like a boy, but he’s got the attitude of a stiff star.

The showcase lasts only ten tunes, and people feel like it’s not enough, but it’s inevitable since they have released only one album, and it’s incredible how they sound mature. Songs wonderfully flow away, the audience acclaim them, the venue went sold-out and I can see people who stare at the band in raptures, myself included, entranced by their sweet and estranging melodies.

Blind, the new single and the second track on the setlist,  has a dreaming refrain and Oriental echoes, accompanied by a wall of sound that doesn’t interfere, but on the contrary is perfect.

Roads, appearing on the EP “Wintering”, reminds me the times of “Goodnight Moon”by Shivaree, it’s a hypnotic ballad embellished by vocal reverbs creating a special atmosphere, while Fine Lights starts mid-air, with a soft synth line padded by Lewis Bowman. It suddenly turns into a Smithsonian tune, changing tempo in a genial way.

These guys have the power to lead people into a state of grace, singer has a strong charisma, and a deep and mellow voice, their potential was clear to me since I listened to The Shore, the last track of this show.

But before coming to the end I have to mention the three tunes that are the prelude to the closing, Paper Thin is really cheered and it’s one the most exhilarating songs together with All the Eastern girls.

This tune is based on drums, drumsticks beat the tempo, foot beats on the bass drum, while a guitar a la Vampire Weekend enter to give the tune a happy mood and leading it towards an open and positive refrain.

I have to say that Chapel Club are really effective playing live, they can create a muffled atmosphere, you feel like you’re there only to listen to their music and nothing else matters, so they are very charismatic.

Five trees is the final hit before the last daze given by The Shore. This tune makes you feel loose, the guitar slide beat the tempo like a clock that can’t stop it, so time runs out and the end arrives.

We want more, but I’m afraid that the band ended their repertory, I have only to wait for a next album to see a twenty-pieces show. But how blissful was this one.

Author: Roberta Capuano

Photos: Marcello Linzalone