The Chap

The Chap is a band out of north London. Their sound is whimsical, but not overbearingly so. Their songs build until they burst at the seems, seducing you in until they erupt in your face. Take for example the video below of the band peforming "Caution Me" live. It's a subdued song, but before you know it, Keith Duncan is a blur behind his drum kit and Johannes von Weizsacker is playing a distorted chord progression that sounds like it came straight out of the '90s. Their live show might come across as a bit goofy at times, but it's endearing. You come to love them for all of their quirks because you begin to realize that they know how to entertain you. They're a fun band, but a smart one, as well (check the second video below for their song "Fun Interesting"). They may have a sense of humor, but that doesn't mean they aren't writing music with a message and a point.


The Chap - "Caution Me" (Live)



The Chap - "Fun & Interesting"

The Chap - "Fun & Interesting" (Live)

The Chap's new album Mega Breakfast is out July 1st in the U.S. on Ghostly International.

Check out two tracks from it here:
The Chap - "They Have A Name"
The Chap - "Carlos Walter Wendy Stanley"

I think it's terrific when artists make reference to an element of popular culture, and the fact that they are mentioning Wendy Carlos in "Carlos Walter Wendy Stanley" is quite fitting, hearing the instrumentation that makes the foundation of the song. Walter/Wendy Stanley is an electronic music composer known for his/her work in A Clockwork Orange (1971) and The Shining (1980). When the guitar first enters, the song certainly becomes a force all its own, pushing the song's energy and pace.

More:
http://www.thechap.org/
www.myspace.com/thechap