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CMJ Green Owl Showcase: Grandchildren, (Le) Poisson Rouge, NY

Live Reviews

Live, their songs manifest as pitfalls and eruptions of noise.

21st October 2009, (Le) Poisson Rouge, NY / By Willis Arnold
Grandchildren Grandchildren’s music is can only be described as an exercise in polyrhythmic percussion patterns and melodic layers. The band weld together the occasionally disparate strains of modern electronic music and the current indie-rock revival of primitive rhythmic structures.

Live, their songs manifest as pitfalls and eruptions of noise; sometimes abrupt in their structural change, but always earned. At times lead instruments are subjugated to the rhythm sections, yet the band displays a strong knack for melody and a chantable hook.

In this setting 'Saturn Returns' becomes a veritable polyrhythmic buffet, driven by an acoustic guitar thread that skips through your brain long after the song has ended.

Though the band certainly revel in percussive possibilities, they don’t shy away from a more open and cosmic sound where appropriate. 'Ok I’m Waiting' is part of a song set that gives an easy nod to the Flaming Lips' more atmospheric moments. The song bank begins with an astral slide guitar, and is augmented by the plink of synthetic finger pianos, and the bent tones of a synthesizer. The music gains momentum through a vocal duet before breaking into the saucy funk duet of trombone and trumpet.

Grandchildren close with the outstanding 'Toss and Turn', one of the band’s tightest songs to date. With and electronic pulse and multiple drum parts, the song breaths through an organ melody and lead guitar line before raving below a descending synthesized squiggle.

Of all the bands playing the CMJ Festival, Grandchildren seem to have the most fun. Rating: 8/10
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