REVIEW: Chimera, Earth Loop (Grass)
- Bob Gajarsky
The cover of Earth Loop, the debut American full length album by the Irish band Chimera, screams out "4AD", the chic alternative label responsible for bands such as the Pixies, Lush, Dead Can Dance, Throwing Muses, Ultra Vivid Scene and many more artists who always seemed to be about three years ahead of the music scene. But this isn't the newest release from 4AD; rather, Chimera spurned their advances and chose to opt with the smaller independent label, Grass. And, instead of being before its time, Earth Loop hits the mark for *this* year.
Following the path of the "alternative Irish sound" that has been paved by the Sundays, Cranberries and Scheer, lead singer Eileen Henry sings over a lilting melody, but rather than a straightforward, simple melody, the group turns to a more complex way of expressing their sound. The first single, "Catch Me", opens and closes with a light industrial backdrop, and serenes into Henry's reflective vocals. "Night Song" covers more familiar territory, with less menacing guitars and could be a likely second single. And, with producer Chris Nagle's past history of success with such bands as the Smiths, New Order and the Wedding Present, it looks like the band made an excellent choice of a guiding force behind the music.
If the Cranberries knew how to rock - and grabbed a sense of being on the cutting edge, rather than the mainstream - they might be Chimera.
