Chimera
Country of origin:
Ireland
Type of music generally:
Ethereal alternative rock
Status:
Most recent release, Earth Loop (1996)
See also:
Wikipedia's entry for Chimera
Comparisons:
Rose Chronicles, Cocteau Twins, Lush, The Sundays
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
Well if you've been jonesing for more Rose Chronicles, this group's music ought to carry you for a while. Actually, I shouldn't say that, since Chimera does have a sound of their own, but I think fans of the one band will like the other. Plus Chimera's singer (Eileen Henry) does sound quite a bit Kristy Thirsk. Her voice contrasts well with the fuzzy distorted guitar used in most of the songs. (dbucak@netaxs.com)If you can imagine a plane perhaps defined by 3 points labeled "early Lush", "90's Cocteau Twins", and "early Sundays" (for some occasional very Harrietish vocal stylings), you might be on the right stratum. Guitars sometimes swirly, sometimes more driving—nothing groundbreaking, but absolutely wonderful stuff start to end. (rjk1@cs.wustl.edu)
Recommended first album:
Earth Loop
Recordings:
- the day star ep (1995/1996)
- Earth Loop (1996)
the day star ep
Release info:
1995 or 1996—Grass Records/Dutch East India Trading—GROW 056-2
Availability:
Probably out of print now
Ecto priority:
Recommended for fans of ethereal vocals and alternative rock
Produced by:
Chris Nagle
Comments:
4 fantastic tracks. (lum_philip@tandem.com)
Earth Loop
Release info:
1996—Grass Records, 72 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, U.S.A.—60130-13035-2
Availability:
Wide in U.S.
Group members:
Eileen Henry—vocals
Steven T. Emerson—bass
Ted Laverty—guitars
Willia Vincent—drums and percussion
Produced by:
Chris Nagle
Comments:
It took me a while to stop hearing echoes of the Rose Chronicles in this CD, but Chimera have emerged as their own selves in my mind. After a disappointing second album from Rose Chronicles, I ended up listening to Earth Loop quite a bit. The songs range from noisy and fuzz-filled to dance music to swirly and ethereal, with Eileen Henry's pretty vocals providing the connecting thread. Overall a very collection of ecto-guitar rock. (dbucak@netaxs.com)i have heard a wide variety of comments about these folks, ranging from strong comparisons to the cocteau twins to "it's too poppy, you won't like it". actually, the thing it reminds me most of is the aforementioned Rose Chronicles. it's not bad, but not outstanding. definitely more poppy than cocteau twins but every so often i actually don't feel totally goth, so maybe this will come in handy. (clsriram@phoenix.Princeton.EDU)
Nothing groundbreaking, but absolutely wonderful stuff start to end. Only thing they lose points for is burying an otherwise enjoyable "hidden track" at the end (Attn: musicians—that was cute 10 years ago, now get over it). (rjk1@cs.wustl.edu)
