Chimney Choir “Feather”

Independent, 2011

Impressive debut from Denver trio.

• In December last year three multi instrumentalists – Kevin Larkin, David Rynhardt and Kris Drickey - got together in Denver Colorado and less than six months later recorded their first EP over a weekend. I think they may be fibbing: I don’t think any one could sound so good, so together, and so effortless in such a short space of time.

• Chimney Choir, with their use of banjo, mandolin, and guitars coupled with exquisite harmonies, manage to sound as old as the Rocky Mountains; yet with synths, samples and soundscapes blended in make the five tracks on ‘Feather’ sound fresh and vibrant.

  Listening to ‘Feather’ is an eerie experience, especially on their take on R L Burnside’s ‘Going Down South’ and ‘The Rattlesnake Attack (Part II) where the samples make for a claustrophobic sound. I would normally now complain that this is only an EP and not an album and say how I hope that there is another release soon. Well, there is. Their second EP ‘Turtle’ has just been released, and I’ve just bought it.