CHORDS ARE DEAD The Siren EP
(self-released; 2006)
Chords are Dead fills me with an overwhelming joy — which may seem odd since the band’s music is far from poppy or light. It’s just so good that, well, it makes me happy.
The Siren, their most recent EP, is right up the alley of anyone who loves Unwound, Polvo, Sonic Youth, Helium/Autoclave, or Sleater-Kinney. (The latter I throw in only because Chords Are Dead have two guitars and drums with no bass.) Guitarists Amelia and Michael play in such a way that the melodies they produce become a sonic game of Tetris: alternate tunings, bended notes, riffs and chords are thrown out with a controlled mania… and somehow it all fits together perfectly.
Amelia provides the vocals for the trio. Her lyrics are dark and introspective, menacing yet vulnerable. In the song "She's Loose," Amelia croons, "I wanna touch you where it hurts."
But what I appreciate the most about Amelia's lyrics is their reliance on metaphor and feel as opposed to literal explanations of emotions. Her words accentuate the emotive complexity of Chords Are Dead's music — allowing both music and lyrics to play off of one another. This, in turn, allows both music and vocals to shine in their own respective limelights while co-existing perfectly. Again, like pieces in Tetris, everything bends and flips to fit together. Sonic contortionism at its best…
You must get The Siren EP and you must see them live, you'll thank me later.
