School of Seven Bells
Alpinisms (Ghostly International)SVIIB, as the shorthand dictates, is the reverse Blonde Redhead, identical twin sisters Alejandra and Claudia Deheza matching wits with former Secret Machines guitarist Benjamin Curtis. Alpinisms, the Brooklyn trio’s late-2008 debut, summits opener “Iamundernodisguise,” the sisters’ voices providing solace for Curtis’ fretwork and electronic squalls. Voices act as rhythm, melody, and lyrics, syllables often stretching far beyond their original intent. “Face to Face on High Places,” “For Kalaja Mari,” and “Prince of Peace” coax a world-view of new sound and order, but “Half Asleep” and “White Elephant Coat” run on Old World melancholy, the latter often forgoing instrumentation altogether in favor of the Dehezas’ seven-bell harmonies. Closing euphoric in “My Cabal,” Alpinisms is a futuristic manifesto. (Wed., Buffalo Billiards, 12mid; Fri., Radio Room Patio, 10pm.)
This article appears in March 20 • 2009.