Jonathan Brown's Journo Blog: Album Review: Chief

MODERN RITUALS: Debut album out to impress

WITH roots bedded deep in Santa Monica, California, as well as in New York City, Chief’s debut album is a bi-coastal, self proclaimed “traveller’s record”. Influenced by the likes of Neil Young and The Byrds, the quartet came out of nowhere to secure a high profile record deal with Domino before teaming up with Grammy Award-winning producer Emery Dobyns on their first record. So they must be good... right?

Well guitarist, Danny Fujikawa says that he naturally felt like driving down the Pacific Coast Highway when listening to 'Modern Rituals' and it’s not hard to see why, with expansive country sounding riffs in songs like ‘Wait For You’. A clever mixture of strummy acoustics and plucked electric guitar sounds along with a dominant drummer combine with Evan Koga’s fresh vocal to create the first of many dramatic tracks on this record.

The album’s highlight is the single ‘Night & Day’, a dramatic tale backed by driving drums and Koga’s soaring vocal. A soft instrumental start to the song is pierced by Koga’s echoed voice as he sings: “I see, see, see you about every night, but my heart don’t, it don’t feel right.” The song builds and builds behind a shimmering guitar before launching into an irresistible prayer-like chorus.

‘Breaking Walls’ is the second single to come from 'Modern Rituals' and is crammed with delicate tinkling guitars, Koga’s pure yet deep vocals and a rocky chorus reminiscent of aussie folk rockers, The Church. This is a cracking driving song, with a folky guitar solo, you can’t help but want to get in your car and join a long road to nowhere, as Koga sings, “now it will fall, it will fall, it will be falling if I’m breaking walls”.

The band also show their melancholic folk leniencies with the dreamy low tempo, violin clad, ‘Irish Song’ and the harmonic, ‘In The Valley’. ‘This Land’ is also a slower offering, this time with Fujikawa’s soft vocal combining beautifully with an Oasis-style rocky riff embedded in the verses.

This record is littered with soaring vocals and gleaming guitar melodies, but at times the hooks aren’t quite as catchy as you might hope. In many cases the choruses are quite long, almost tribal chants like on ‘Nothing’s Wrong’ where Koga sings, “when we go back alone, take me with you don’t be cold, you can call me on the phone and the weather gets dark you know”.

But this album is more than the odd catchy chorus. It’s a cohesive record brimming with beautifully layered instruments that take you on a journey, supported by classy harmonies that The Beach Boys would be proud of.

The new age folk rock success based around groups like Band of Horses could well see Chief hit the big time if this is anything to go by as their cross country influences make this the best of both emotional folk and feel good rock. A brilliant combination of layered guitar work, soft harmonies and dramatic song structure make this album a must listen.

9/10