It’s official: definite articles are out. But Chants isn’t just another band to go the route of the single word. The stage name of Jordan Cohen, a familiar face in the Madison, WI music scene, Chants is a rock/jazz/country percussionist’s solo project and first electronic work. All at once catchy and confusing, Chants is able to put together some great electronic music while using sounds that are familiar but not exactly instrumental.
The most obvious example of this is on the track “With You” that sounds like it’s made up mostly by banging a wooden spoon on kitchen pots. That’s entirely possible as their Bandcamp page says the album was “Recorded by Jordan Cohen & Scott Lamps in assorted basements, kitchens, and living rooms.”
The first track on the album “Vilas Victoria” is a standout. Just as the intro seems to get a bit drawn out, the track turns in an entirely new direction only to twist back and add some unexpected but subtle vocals. There was a few times listening to the album where I had to double-check to make sure I hadn’t accidentally clicked away from their page. I couldn’t help but think of a some ‘sounds-like’ comparisons, with the jazz-influenced “Black Ants” channelling a TV On The Radio vibe and the vocal cut on “Objay Dart” bringing Baths to mind.
Connect with Chants – Bandcamp | Tumblr | Myspace | Soundcloud
