By Becca Marx
There are so many things to love about a split LP: cross promotion, built in fan base growth, and in the case of We Are The Sun by Chatham Rise and TheLightshines, a perfect set up for crossing the pond co-tours.
Chatham Rise is a ambient psychedelic/shoegaze band that are on the Minneapolis record label Picture In My Ear, while TheLightshines are out of the UK, and on the The Great Pop Supplement label.
The two bands, who’re quite complimentary in style, each contributed four songs to their collaboration: We Are The Sun, which was released in June.
Mark Gardener, of the legendary shoegaze band RIDE mixed for Chatham Rise, to a gorgeous result. Their track “Meadowsweet” is a lushly produced, and velvet-like ode to summer, music to get lost in.
“Dawn”, successfully channels the birth of a new day, the aura of the light changing and flexing, as the song fades away. The emotive song “How Do You Sleep”, visualizes the jilted lover with accusatory lyrics permeating its length.
Chatham Rise’s titillating music, and buried in the mix vocals create an atmospheric escape into an alternate reality.
TheLightshines, fall in the psychedelic category as well, their vocals more forward in the mix, and a pop rock sensibility underlying the layers of sound.
Stylistically, there are notes of Manchester’s iconic sound (the Stone Roses, James, Inspiral Carpets) in TheLightshines four tracks. “Sunshine in My Head” is a dirge like, sitar and tabla laden champion of TheLightshine’s sound, while “Hanging Around (Famous Times Version)” showcases their psychedelic pop tendencies.
What a trans-Atlantic treasure, I do hope that TheLightshines will jump the pond to join Chatham Rise, and treat us to a live version of We Are The Sun. Chatham Rise is on the rise, a credit to the Minneapolis psychedelic scene. A scene that includes another hometown favorite: Magic Castles. Minneapolis based psychedelic music is becoming more internationally prominent, and We Are The Sun is its proof.
https://chathamrise.bandcamp.com/
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