This is what I wanted. A band that can morph from Bikini Kill to Cat Power in one chord progression. Jen Schande (facebook/twitter) are a band whose album starts with a firecracker and ends in hypnosis.
First track, Intro to a Sinister Smile, sounds like it’s been taken from a fast ‘n’ furious speed scene in a low budget art school film via Blood Red Shoes’ recording studio. It’s 1 minute of simple, menacing guitar that might just get you through those last 60 seconds of your workout.
Straight into Nice Fex, which takes a bit of lo-fi guitar and mixes it with jaded vocals making for a nice little angsty number that will end up being sung in the shower by yours truly by the end of tonight.
Ghost Power ultimately confirms that Jen Schande enjoy the music they make. The devilishly gratifying yelps from lead vocalist, Jen, along with the rest of the band and garage guitars really do make it the best song on the album for sure.
Songs for and Inspired by Valencia: Chapter 19 really does encapsulate something of the Mediterranean. It is only good and proper for Sam Vs. the Floor to be played around a campfire in a crepuscular Spain. It blends acoustic strings with the sound of cicadas so that all you really need to seal the deal is a bottle of tequila, some chums and you’re good to go.
This band leaves you wanting more and hopefully more is what we’ll get. Basically, I want to know what happened in Valencia: Chapters 1-18. And the real truth of the matter is, I want to be Chapter 20.