Customer Reviews

Chemistry Is What We Are

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
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To clear the air, I don't find Beta Band to be all that great. I know this is blasphemy to some but it is my feeling that the Beta's best work is yet to come. In the meantime you can listen to Simian.

When I played this the first time I thought I had made a terrible mistake. The beginnings of "Drop and Roll" and some of the other songs sound like pre-school children playing toy instruments. Luckily it doesn't last. After about a minute "Drop and Roll" shifts to dense trip-hoppish psychedelia - the songs sounds like MBV playing with synthesizers instead of wah and distortion pedals, or Broadcast as 90s psychedelic electro-poppers instead of 60s revisionists. "Drop and Roll" is the fastest 6 miutes of your life despite the sluggish pace of the music, and just try to get the chanting chorus out of your head.

Many of the songs follow in the same vein. "The Wisp," "You Set off My Brain," and "One Dimension" being notable standouts. The songs are not necessarily very diverse but this is a great set of songs nonetheless. The second half of the album shines as Simian deftly mixes dense and ethereal psychedelic songs with some winsomely atmospheric, floating ballads. As a bonus the CD is ultra-enhanced and guides you to the quirky Simian webpage.

There is a rumor that Simian got signed when they kidnapped a record executive, blidfolded him and played these demos while the band drove him around in their van. That's the perfect setting for this album - in the dark with all your senses tuned to the music. Just don't try driving blindfolded.

If the Beta Band took some acid and lay out in the sun with the Beach Boys they might sound a bit like this. The four lads of Simian -- who claim to have kidnapped a A&R guy to get their record made -- create trippy, charming pop in their debut, "Chemistry Is What We Are." Who knew chemistry was so fun?

"I see the world in one dimension/I only see through my dementia/and I want to tell you this/feelings seem to run my mind/clarity is bliss/but chemistry is what we are..." croons Simon Lord over a catchy psychedelic tune. That can pretty much sum up the entire album -- enchanting, summery psychedelica and swooning, airy ballads.

The songs don't vary too much, but what there is has little hints of other musical styles, woven in so you barely recognize them: acoustic grit, country, doo-wop, electronic tinkles, and blippy bubbly space-rock. And songs such as "Round and Around" are smooth, enchanting ballads that even out all the psychedelic pop.

I don't know if Simian really kidnapped a record exec to get their first record out, but from the sound of their debut's music, they didn't need to. While they have the occasional odd song bombs -- what is "Three in the Corner," plodding psychedelic country? -- most of them are absolutely impeccable in structure, while not losing the "fun" aspect.

There are some echoes of Aphex Twin and Stereolab lurking under the bright melodies. Simian uses plenty of pianos and synth, keyboards all over the place. It sounds surprisingly organic, though. The melodica does the best job of all, with a wavery majesty that keeps the sound from being TOO poppy.

Simon Lord sounds like a quiet, naive choirboy who decided he wanted to be a rock star. His voice is a bit high, but very sweet. At times he gets buried under the music, but in songs like the eerie, minimalist "Chamber" he gets to shine front-and-center.

"Chemistry Is What We Are" is capturing lightning in a bottle, in a sense -- without being derivative, it has what made the best of 60s psychedelic pop so good. Enchanting and original.

Electro. Retro. Warped. And Weird. Musically, this disc contains the freshest electronica around. Vocally, the songs are harmonious and catchy. Equal parts Beach Boys, Pavement, and To Rococo Rot. Best songs are Mr. Crow, One Dimension, and The Wisp.

fantastic album. I don't know why it is out of print nor available for download.

So I'm standing in the record store the other day with my want list in hand. I couldn't find anything on my list because the store I was in is notorious for being "out of stock" on most of their stuff. I do, however, generally respect the tastes of the workers there. As I'm looking for a cd on my list I hear two of the clerks talking about and describing a band. They were saying that it was "sorta dreamy and trippy", but that it had good beats. They also said it reminded them of Aphex Twin meets The Beta Band. Now I know that this combination has been thrown all over the place so I'll add it one more time. However, Simian really do sorta have their own sound. It's great I might add. The first two songs are my favorites. "The Wisp" being the first single off the album. The whole album is great. Just when you think you've got the album down, the next song changes course to give you a completely different feeling.

Is this recommended? Yep. I think you'll be pretty surprised at what you hear when you listen to this album. I enjoy it a lot. Thank you record store clerks.

I was at first a bit leery when my best friend started playing this for me (dinky organ? out of tune vocals?), but about one minute into the first song, "Drop and Roll," all my fears were assuaged. That was when the song blossomed into something grand and Spectorish, and when the album wormed its way permanently into my brain. Other highlights included "The Wisp," with its Crosby Stills and Nash harmonies, (but in tune) and the single "One Dimension." Album most comparable in my mind: the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour.

This album defies categorization.It rocks,spaces out,gets all dubby on you,and then goes all electronic.There are elements of folk,the Beach Boys' harmonising,and I even hear a bit of the Apples In Stereo.,as well as some Beatlesque moments.Enough references?I haven't stopped listening to this since I bought it.It's an odd,even spooky listen,yet it captivates.Fabulous!Oh,and the cover art is pretty odd to...

I've heard a few people compare Simian to the Beta Band, and while i love the Beta's, i must say Simian are stranger but just as brilliant. To me this album sounds like Aphex Twin with Beach Boy melodies. The stand out tracks are "The Wisp", "Mr. Crow" and the fantastic "One dimension". If you get the chance i recommend you pick this one up.

Anyone who is not dominated by simplistic boring music that has taken over the airwaves will love this album. This band has definitely learned how to make proper music and they will not forget.
I would highly recomend this album. If you enjoy the radio, you most likely will not enjoy this album.