Born out of a desire to "make music for haunted houses, Brooklyn-based trio Chairlift arent as frightening, or dark, as they intended to be. Part of a community that includes bands such as MGMT and Yeasayer, Caroline Polachek, Aaron Pfenning and Patrick Wimberly are every bit as eccentric and theatrical as their peers, and perhaps even more well-known, thanks to their "Bruises being used in the latest iPod ad campaign. Their debut album, Does You Inspire You, takes cues from the spooky aesthetic of the Knife and the less extreme moments of the Creatures without forgetting to be a predominantly accessible pop group. "Planet Health is a stunning piece of pseudo-Asian pop reminiscent of Siouxsies mid-career exoticism, while "Bruises is some gorgeous 80s radio throwback, mixing shimmering keys and a minimalist drum machine with Polacheks emoting, synthetic vocals. "Evident Utensil is even better, showcasing their ability to channel their bizarro side with the utmost absurdity, convincingly serenading about the importance of a pencil in the campiest of vocals. The album does begin to lose its steam in the last-third but its not enough to overshadow the extraordinary character of this inventive group.
(Kanine)Chairlift
Does You Inspire You
BY Cam LindsayPublished Oct 25, 2008