The Wake

The Chambermaids are the kind of band whose music sounds a hell of a lot simpler than it really is on the first few listens. To wit: their new EP, Down in the Berries, sounds like 17 minutes of Sonic Youth-lovin’, 90s-rock revivalism on first blush. Repeated listens reveal a bit more nuance, though. Once you get past dual-channel guitar solos and garage-rock riffs, you’ll find a talented rhythm section that knows how to flip the switch instantly from dub-inflected groove to straight-ahead pounding and a Futureheads-like use of vocal harmonies to add an ethereal layer to otherwise straightforward songs.

The Chambermaids are interesting because, like all the best post-punk acts, they’ve got a bass-heavy sound and a penchant for wildly noisy interludes tempered by a respect for old-school rock. It just so happens that the garage rock side wins out more often than on the records that undoubtedly inspired these cats (Joy Division never put that “Louie Louie” cover on an album while Down in the Berries is lousy with the old E-G-E rock ‘n’ rollin’. Not lousy in the bad way, though). At the end of the day, there’s no escaping those comparisons to Pixies, Sonic Youth, The Breeders, etc., whose collective influence looms large and gives the record a slightly disconcerting feeling of deja vu. Still, though, it’s an enjoyable record, and you can’t really ask for more than that.