Getting into Singer depends on how much convention you like in your rock. If you can do without, welcome aboard. But if you need a little structure, a little something familiar to hang your hat on, this new Drag City act probably arent for you. Unhistories, the debut by this Chicago four-piece, is teeming with freeform, improv-styled arrangements that rapidly fall in and out of twisted math-like patterns. Its a sound that equally hints at left-of-centre post-punk outfits like Pere Ubu, as well as more avant-garde artists such as Scott Walker, in his less-linear 4AD work. And this group arent called Singer for nothing, with the bands duelling vocalists providing dense, multi-layered harmonies that are as complex as the compositions. What this all then leaves you with is one mind-fuck of a listen thats anything but typical, showing a band not content simply following the status quo. And if you can handle it, this is always a good thing.
(Drag City)Singer
Unhistories
BY Brock ThiessenPublished Mar 24, 2008