SVIIB

School of Seven Bells
Alpinisims
Ghostly International
10.28.08
****
Brooklyn psychedelia has fostered a new class of alchemists. School of Seven Bells, fronted by harmonious twin sister vocalists Alejandra and Claudia Deheza (On!Air!Library!), flourished upon departure of guitarist Ben Curtis from his former band of brothers, The Secret Machines. Conjuring up mysticism, SVIIB employs their debut, Alpinisms (Ghostly International) urging those who cannot see what they see to wear “designer rose-colored glasses”.

“How does someone with nothing end/ up with so much to show for it?” The disco-laden “Connjur” is backed by Curtis’ electro avant-garde licks, reminiscent of the former sibling alliance. Rest assured, however, SVIIB are not TSM. The Bells are futuristic laptop magic meets monastical choir chant. The Machines are heavily brooding and progressive. Both bands fared well by the amicable split to opposite sides of the psychedelic spectrum — light versus dark.

SVIIB generates transcending white light through cosmic sound, awakening the mind’s third eye with airy timbre and warming the soul through looping rhythm. “White Elephant Coat” conveys their surreal musical vision, as sisters Deheza endow mesmerizing accompaniment to a prowling Blonde Redhead bass line. Strapped in by sleigh bells, Claudia creates tribal percussion with maracas and tambourine while Alejandra bestows snakecharming keyboard hooks. The Deheza’s layered neo-Celtic mantra is evocative and ghostly. Echoing chords from Curtis offer a meditative mood and higher spiritual awareness. White elephants are good omens.

Good karma has kept these students ahead of the class. School of Seven Bells are “…undernodisguise”, divulging centered realist ideals and lateral thinking. “I am neither breather or speaker/ I am neither walker or sleeper/ I am neither sister, brother, son or daughter…” Influenced by the moment, these young, modern existentialists need not a school of thought. Alpinisms is a boycott of shallow hipster values and talentless electronic melody. Catchy Ladytron beats, angelic hymns and guitar wizardry make for an evolution of laptop smart-pop that has no doubt found its place in the future of music, knocking seven bells out of the BK psychedelic realm. Groovy.