America is working hard to kill electronic music. Between the Frat boys fist pumping to bro electro and the dismal EDM festivals combined with a vacant Coachella narcissism, it’s enough to make digital musicians wonder why they bother.
Luckily Chvrches are on hand offering salvation and proving there is more to electronica than dropping the bass.
The Glasgow triptych are currently on tour in the States promoting their second album Every Open Eye, winning fans from California to New York with their sophisticated, ethereal tracks.
Writing for the LA Times, Tom Martens likes their vibe.
“Heartache isn’t necessarily supposed to sound exuberant, and electronics aren’t expected to be as inviting as a hug, but Scotland’s Chvrches consistently defies those conventions on sophomore effort “Every Open Eye.”
“Light is all over us,” frontwoman Lauren Mayberry sings on album centerpiece “Clearest Blue,” an effervescent workout with a melody that zigzags around a buzzy beat as if it’s trapped in a vintage pinball machine. And even when things get darker – the waves of water threatening to crush her on “Empty Threat” – Mayberry is undeterred, lightly stepping around a groove like she’s been let loose on a playground.”
Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook and Martin Doherty played Chicago last night.
Twitter says it was a great show.
Amazing show @CHVRCHES #chvrches #metrochicago #wrigleyville #Chicago pic.twitter.com/8Z59IDORRj
— ET (@Marie_LovesIce) October 25, 2015
Here's to taking what you came for. #CHVRCHES #Chicago https://t.co/vGHLNoj97K pic.twitter.com/Ew3f5wupCZ
— Jonathan Cleveland (@_JCleveland) October 25, 2015
Amazing show by @CHVRCHES at the @MetroChicago Killed it.
— Irvine Welsh (@IrvineWelsh) October 25, 2015
Here’s the setlist:
Never Ending Circles
We Sink
Keep You on My Side
Lies
Make Them Gold
Empty Threat
Tether
Playing Dead
Science/Visions
Gun
Bury It
Under the Tide
Recover
Leave a Trace
Clearest Blue
Encore
Afterglow
The Mother We Share
Chvrches continue their American tour before returning to the UK. No new Glasgow shows are planned yet, though they will be playing in Aberdeen and Dundee before the end of the year.
Take a look at some of their recent live performances below.
Chvrches US Tour Dates
26 October Cain’s Ballroom Tulsa, Oklahoma
27 October Marathon Music Works, Nashville, Tennessee
28 October The Fillmore, Charlotte, North Carolina
30 October House of Blues, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
31 October Jannus Landing, St Petersburg, Florida
5 November The Bomb Factory, Dallas, Texas
6 November Fun Fun Fun Festival, Austin, Texas