Levator

Country of origin:

U.S.

Type of music generally:

Slowcore shoegaze-y altpop

Status:

Most recent release, The Biggest Waves Come at Night (2009)

See also:

Levator's MySpace page

Comparisons:

Low, Mazzy Star, My Bloody Valentine, Cranes, Fiel Garvie, High Violets, Lush

Covers/own material:

Own

General comments:

Levator's sound is a unique mix and not easy to describe, and seemingly a little contradictory: the backing is strong and shoegaze-y but melodic, and the vocals are high and reedy but atmospheric. It adds up to something highly listenable. It's not exactly experimental per se, but certainly different. There's darkness and distortion and what but what Synthesis aptly describes as "Lynn's silvery voice." Maybe take Low add a little shoegaze and insteady of the harmonies use reedy/breathy vocals? Kinda Mazzy Star and Damon and Naomi plus a touch of psychedelia and a dash of My Bloody Valentine? (sophiagurley@hotmail.com)

Recommended first album:

The Biggest Waves Come at Night

Recordings:

• Midnight (2004)
• Jackson Hwy. Barnes Drive (2006)
• The Biggest Waves Come at Night (2009)

Jackson Hwy. Barnes Drive

Release info:

2006—Levator Music

Availability:

See Levator's site

Ecto priority:

Recommended

Group members:

Sky Lynn—acoustic guitar, bass, drums, effects, electric guitar, keyboard, vocals, xylophone
Nate Henry—tenor sax, effects, keyboard

Guest artists:

Rando Skrasek—drums, synth

Comments:

Very Mazzy Star (particularly "Another Day"), or a little Lois-y with a more atmospheric backing. Stripped-down feeling, yet effective. Downbeat and dreamy. (sophiagurley@hotmail.com)

The Biggest Waves Come at Night (2009)

Release info:

2009—Levator Music

Availability:

See Levator's site

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Nate Henry—sax, synth, effects
Rando Skrasek—drums, analog synth, effects, bass
Sky Lynn—guitar, vocals, synth, effects, bass

Comments:

Much dreamier and richer/more distorted backing than Jackson Hwy. Barnes Drive. Much less Mazzy Star-sounding and the lyrics are a little more difficult to make out. Atmospheric with a touch of crunch, psychedelically dreamy and edgy all at once. You can get lost in this music but the edgy vocals keep you focused. Tracks like "12:34", "Dark Hair" and "Mocking Bird" where the backing is especially driven are my favourites here. Or "Trampoline" with its trancey guitars and dreamy-sad yet lilting vocals. Recommended. (sophiagurley@hotmail.com)

Thanks to Sophia Gurley for work on this entry.