Logo
DiS Needs You: Save our site »
  • Logo_home2
  • Records
  • In Depth
  • In Photos
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Search
  • Community
  • Records
  • In Depth
  • Blog
  • Community

THIS SITE HAS BEEN ARCHIVED AND CLOSED.

Please join the conversation over on our new forums »

If you really want to read this, try using The Internet Archive.

The Chiara L's

Knives / Kate's Kid

Label: This Is Fake DIY Records Release Date: 10/12/2007

30137
domgourlay by Dom Gourlay December 10th, 2007

Not since Clare Grogan decided to swap schoolgirl crush films for a (short-lived, admittedly) crack at pop stardom has something sounded so fresh, innocent or exciting as this. The Chiara L's - named after their singer - revisit a period many didn't know existed and those that did had probably forgotten about.

With a guitar sound that owes as much to the visceral mid-period Banshees howl of John McGeoch as it does the neu-dance phenomenon led by Bloc Party, augmented by Chiara Luccini's mildly eccentric Leeds Chinatown vocal, both 'Knives' and its sister flipside 'Kate's Kid' straddle the borderline between familiarity and unique entity almost simultaneously.

Sure, there are certain inescapable reference points such as the aforementioned acts, and even a dose of the Helen Loves too, but along with recent releases by the likes of Sky Larkin and Buen Chico, this record was obviously constructed deep in the heart of West Yorkshire. And even if it does wear a hairslide and a Pastels button badge alongside its heart-adorned sleeve, this is the true definition of indie-pop in its purest form.

As Ms Luccini closes the title track with the line "I don't think this could be any better we're all inclined to agree. Delightful.

 

Video: 'Knives'live from Joseph’s Well_

    • -

  • 8
    Dom Gourlay's Score
Log-in to rate this record out of 10
Share on
   
Love DiS? Become a Patron of the site here »


LATEST


  • Why Music Journalism Matters in 2024


  • Drowned in Sound is back!


  • Drowned in Sound's 21 Favourite Albums of the Year: 2020


  • Drowned in Sound to return as a weekly newsletter


  • Lykke Li's Sadness Is A Blessing


  • Glastonbury 2019 preview playlist + ten alternative must sees



Left-arrow

Younghusband

Could They Be Jealous Of Us

Mobback
29791
29771

The Octopus Project

Hello, Avalanche

Mobforward
Right-arrow


LATEST

    news


    Why Music Journalism Matters in 2024

  • 106145
  • news


    Drowned in Sound is back!

  • 106143

    news


    Drowned in Sound's 21 Favourite Albums of the Y...

  • 106141
  • news


    Drowned in Sound to return as a weekly newsletter

  • 106139

    Playlist


    Lykke Li's Sadness Is A Blessing

  • 106138
  • Festival Preview


    Glastonbury 2019 preview playlist + ten alterna...

  • 106137

    Interview


    A Different Kind Of Weird: dEUS on The Ideal Crash

  • 106136
  • Festival Review


    Way Out East: DiS Does Sharpe Festival 2019

  • 106135
MORE


    news


    The Neptune Music Prize 2016 - Vote Now

  • 103918
  • Takeover


    The Winner Takes It All

  • 50972

    Takeover


    10 Things To Not Expect Your Record Producer To...

  • 93724
  • review


    The Mars Volta - Deloused In The Comatorium

  • 4317

    review


    Sonic Youth - Nurse

  • 6044
  • feature


    New Emo Goth Danger? My Chemical Romance confro...

  • 89578

    feature


    DiS meets Justice

  • 27270
  • news


    Our Independent music filled alternative to New...

  • 104374
MORE

Drowned in Sound
  • DROWNED IN SOUND
  • HOME
  • SITE MAP
  • NEWS
  • IN DEPTH
  • IN PHOTOS
  • RECORDS
  • RECOMMENDED RECORDS
  • ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
  • FESTIVAL COVERAGE
  • COMMUNITY
  • MUSIC FORUM
  • SOCIAL BOARD
  • REPORT ERRORS
  • CONTACT US
  • JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
  • FOLLOW DiS
  • GOOGLE+
  • FACEBOOK
  • TWITTER
  • SHUFFLER
  • TUMBLR
  • YOUTUBE
  • RSS FEED
  • RSS EMAIL SUBSCRIBE
  • MISC
  • TERM OF USE
  • PRIVACY
  • ADVERTISING
  • OUR WIKIPEDIA
© 2000-2025 DROWNED IN SOUND