Born out of Brooklyn, Apache Beat is a band that has garnered a lot of attention over the past two years.Pitchfork, Nylon, NME, and countless others have been in love with the band’s exciting and edgy new sound. Not to mention they have gained pretty notable fans like the MisShapes, members of MGMT, School of Seven Bells, Gossip, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Last month they debuted their first album Last Chants, featuring contributions from members of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Rapture, and Lightspeed Champion. Plus it was produced/mixed by Martin Bisi (Sonic Youth, Swans) and mixed by John Agnello (The Kills, Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth).
Last Chants sounds so different from other music currently out there. It’s new wave and avant-rock swirled up with elements of post punk and yet has this very primal sound coursing through the album’s veins. Lead singer Ilirjana’s voice is compelling and never cutesy or overly precious like other indie darlings. She has a mesmerizing power that brings to mind Grace Slick from Jefferson Airplane. The album sounds like the stirring of creative spirits traveling swiftly through an uncharted wilderness.
“Knives” begins the album with a pulsating synth melody as Ilirjana’s voice rides in on the beat like a warrior ready for battle. Then “Walking on Fire” slows the pace down for a moment as Ilirjana whispers her words like a swirling breeze until they pick up into a full force gale. It intensifies and whips your hair around your head, but eventually the storm dies down and her fierce energy abates into the gentle tinkle of wind chimes. Then somewhere in the forest a drum starts beating and some strange animal starts to squawk a warning that the next song is here. It is “Let It Go,” and it conjures up images of tribal people gathered around a fire, murmuring their stories in song, as the flames dance below a vast starry sky.
Then it’s as if the sun is rising as “A Break in the Light” actually sounds brighter. It makes for a cheery instrumental interlude into their underground classic single, “Tropics,” a dramatic song about heartbreak. Followed by their second single, “Your Powers Are Magic,” which starts with this great guitar melody as Ilirjana’s voice comes in and loops you around in a melodic maze. You emerge only to set sail in “Nightwaters,” an upbeat song about a love that wasn’t meant to be.
“It Will Be” transforms the music into this sort of dreamscape of abstract sing-song voices and fuzzy guitars. Some of the voices are clear while others seem far away and garbled like they are being heard underwater. But just as you are about to drift under completely, “Fear of Falling” pulls you out of the dream and back into the present as the drums suddenly start pounding and Ilirjana snaps you to attention with her imploring vocals. As the album culminates, “Last Chants” and “Another Day” both sound triumphant and like a phoenix has risen up from the ashes of the prior break-up songs. Lastly, “Momentary Alignment” has a drum beat that seems to march you out of the album, lighter in step than when you started.
Watch Apache Beat’s video below for “Another Day.” It’s a trippy mix of silhouetted dancing, random images, and clips from the movie The NeverEnding Story that all looks like it has been culled straight from old VHS tapes.
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