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About Chad GO
ELSEWHERE |
Chong Marker 8-song self-titled CD Chong Marker is one of those recording “projects” pieced together by a multitude of correspondences between like-minded musicians dislocated only by geography. Amy, living in Austin sang over 4-track cassette tapes mailed from Louisville (when not singing for Furbelly), where Eric and Stephen recorded and mixed. Eric has played in Lemonade Hayride (see history of Louisville rock music!), then moved with Rachel Grimes (of Rachels) into the Hula Hoop project. Without leaving the Hoop behind, Eric has played with Boyracer’s Stewart Anderson in their Hulaboy combo for several years now -- never leaving Hoop drummer Stephen Jones with the feeling of abandonment! Eric has produced music by Palace and SongsOhia which have failed to make him famous by any standards. Album opener, Wax & Brain, is reminiscent of the Shop Assistants’ late-80s vibe, while underscored by Eric’s unique guitar work (stylistically the same Hula Hoop-isms born out of an affection for Mark E. Smith’s banter). Sweet Mouth delivers the lovelorn pop this combo is famous (across the pond) for -- a Pam Berry-like whispery voice rides the crest of a chug-chugging 4/4 rhythm while Palace-like guitar and Yo La Tengo organs gurgle below sealevel. Down with the Jones rekindles ashen memories of early Velocity Girl (who at the time was constantly compared to My Bloody Valentine unfortunately). Homeshopping is elegant while harnessing the power of thunder in its searing tension -- a by-product of a generation born hearing Sonic Youth on college radio stations. Blue Blankets for the Mean Reds turns the listener on edge in its shy delivery -- an acoustic guitar and a woman’s voice is after all the basic building block of essential pop construction (see Lois Maffeo for further evidence of this genre). Funhouse Hall of Mirrors delivers girl-pop charm as it skips along the sandy edges of tidal pools reflecting the shimmering guitars of Heavenly or Slowdive. Ticker explodes with soaring guitar lines and a flare for faster tempos, sounding like the impossible union of Belly and Stereolab. The album closer, as well as being the only cover, The Proudest, Loneliest Fool is akin to Black Tambourine or Amy Linton’s (Henry’s Dress, Aislers Set) brand of melancholic pop. Amy
Steiger - vocals Discography |
