Every single thing I've heard from Athen, Ohio's The Laughing Chimes has hit the sweet spot I look for in indie music. That shouldn't be a surprise since the band's on Slumberland Records and that label's been on a 35-year roll. [Full disclosure: I can still remember like it was yesterday Archie Moore of Velocity Girl walking into the University of Maryland Record Co-Op to offer us the What Kind of Heaven Do You Want? EP for sale in the store in late 1989.]
The members of The Laughing Chimes -- and there are 4 of them now! -- are young, but they are wise beyond their years as they pull pieces of past pop together to make something magical. "Tomorrow's 87" is like something from Creation's heyday -- think The Loft, maybe? -- while "The Apologist Effigy" signifies both a love of the Paisley Underground scene on these shores, and an admiration for loads of chiming guitar bands in England too. Both numbers are just perfect as far as I'm concerned.
Tomorrow's 87 by The Laughing Chimes is out now via Slumberland Records.
[Photo: Sophia Orhea]