The Chambermaids 'Down in the Berries'
Modern Radio Record Label
The Chambermaids - Down in the Berries EP (Modern Radio)
New York's The Pains of Being Pure at Heart have been getting national attention recently for integrating what was so great about shoegaze into their pop songs, but local band The Chambermaids have been quietly doing that very thing here at home for years. With their vinyl-only release, Down in the Berries, they've become even more successful at patenting their brand of neo-shoegaze meets moody rock meets sincere and heartfelt pop – minus the angst.
On this long-awaited seven-song EP, siblings Neil and Martha Weir, who started playing as The Shut-ins in 2003, are joined by Nate Nelson (Private Dancer, STNNNG) and Mickey Kahleck (ex-Shotgun Monday, Chibalo), who since the album's recording has replaced Colin Johnson of Vampire Hands on drums. The siblings continue their journey into the shadowy songwriting depths hinted at on their 2006 self-titled release. The melancholy of the EP is perfectly complemented by Martha Weir's light, airy vocals (as a member of Finger Pressure she provided guest vocals on Private Dancer's debut). The studio engineer background of Neil Weir (he of The Old Blackberry Way studio in Minneapolis) is apparent – the album is well mixed and balanced, but doesn't seem overdone or too polished. The songs sound live and completely natural. It's as if they've been playing together forever - which Neil and Martha very well probably have been.
Those NYC Pitchfork darlings should take note: The Chambermaids have struck that delicate balance between sounding new but familiar, unique but evocative, and faintly nostalgic but still relevant (which is probably what also makes friends and labelmates Vampire Hands so appealing). While fans of older bands like The Smiths, My Bloody Valentine and Joy division will get their gloomy pop fix from Down in the Berries, they'll likely discover a favorite new band in the process.
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