Chateau Revenge
Perfect pop of a Pretenders hue from Nashville combo.
Roisin Dwyer, 21 Feb 2012
The Silver Seas’ third album is a perfect pop record. Catchy melodies – check. Breezy harmonies – check. Tin Pan Alley-esque arrangements – check. Songs about girls and heartache – check.
The level of musicianship and songwriting on display from the Nashville troupe is eye-watering. Not so surprising given their heritage – lead singer Daniel Tashian is the son of renowned musician Barry Tashian who has worked with Emmylou Harris, Soloman Burke and Kenny Rogers,, while pianist Jason Lehning’s father Kyle is a celebrated producer.
From opening gambit ‘Another Bad Night’s Sleep’ the gold pop standard is upheld throughout. The songs upbeat shuffle breezes along exquisitely with playful bass and shimmering guitar.
The subject matter runs the gamut but the tone is resolutely optimistic, from the sweet melancholy of ‘Jane’ with its ethereal vocal layers to the effusive melody of ‘Somebody Said Your Name’.
A panoply of influences is evident throughout. Chateau Revenge is dappled with Fleetwood Mac-isms; ‘The Best Things In Life’ brings to mind a slicker Hall And Oates as well as Steely Dan, with is clap-a-long feel-good soft rock bluster.
The songs may seem carefree and frivolous but each is meticulously constructed encompassing lush instrumentation, dextrous strings, sublime harmonies and an expert appreciation of texture, craft and structure.
And the defining mark of a perfect pop record: even the songs about heartache make your toe tap.
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