In the last decade-end, there was a rash of neon colored indie rock. Phoenix released their best record (Wolfgang), Grimes came out with her awesome debut, and two kids from Brooklyn hooked up and formed a band called Chairlift and released three well-regarded synthpop records.
Their first single got tapped for an iPod commercial and what could have been a rather anonymous little band, got pretty big overnight, which I think was helpful in their confidence. Their second and third records were ambitious affairs which perfectly highlighted singer Caroline Palochek’s impressive vocal talent.
Chairlift broke up a couple of years ago and Caroline Palochek is gearing up to release her solo debut under her own name. She has one of the best voices in indie rock. Because of that, her music is very unique and so far, the three songs released highlight her vocal range in very different ways.
The first, and best, of the singles is “Door” and it may be one of the best songs of the summer. A wild little beat gives way to a super catchy chorus. It’s slow and atmospheric and wonderful.
Next is the more up-beat, R&B inspired, “Ocean Of Tears.” She’s worked with a wide variety of artists over the last few years and you can hear those influences in this great song.
The final new song is the somber, “Parachute.” Caroline employs a deeper register to her voice in this song. It’s a much more emotional performance. Although the song could use a time change or something to change it up, it’s still a strong track that makes me look forward to the full length.
Elad Haber 