The
Scottish indie music scene has been healthy for a number of years now and
Chvrches may just be the next big thing to come from it. But can they reach the
stature of their established counterparts?
For fans
of: The Knife, Depeche Mode, Delphic, White Lies, Tanlines, Prince, The XX,
Flume.
Born in the heart of Glasgow, the electropop sound produced by Chvrches will have you hooked from the very moment that your ears are graced by ‘The Mother We Share’. This may be strange with the song being written and recorded in only two days, but why overcomplicate things? The band is fronted by adorable lead singer Lauren Mayberry whose chilling vocals and oddly capturing stage presence have made her a sensation amongst the band’s cult of followers despite her calling herself a “scumbag non-musician”. Luckily, modesty is an attractive trait. Mayberry’s vocals are backed by Iain Cook and Martin Doherty (formerly a live member of the Twilight Sad) whose use of synthesizers makes a sound that never fails to bring out emotion.
To avoid confusion and limit arguments, the V in the band name is for no reason other than to make internet searches easier for those searching for their music so as to not be confused with any religious results.
Having been tipped by BBC’s Sound of 2013 as one of the most promising new music talents of 2013, the band’s sounds have not gone unnoticed. Further recognition came from NME who ranked ‘Lies’ as number 28 on their best tracks of 2012. It is no secret that Chvrches’ live performance is not one to be missed. The fact that they have already toured as the opening act for Passion Pit as well as completed their own official UK tour tells you something about where this band is headed. The trio’s current focus will be their debut album due to be released this summer, until which time we will have to make do with the Recover EP.
When we compare Chvrches to other bands there are a number
of big names that we can connect in some way. Notable influences include The Knife and their use of melodic synth and percussion is perfect for fans of The
XX and Flume. One thing is for certain though, their sound is truly unique.
Song Focus: “The Mother
We Share” is slightly softer than Chvrches other material but is a prime
example of the melodic synth riffs used by the band to beautifully back the
vocals of Lauren Mayberry.
