Rocker (feedbot)
Gold Member
You know the feeling, that creeping certainty that things are changing. The seasons are shifting, the summer is ending, you’re well on your way to toward winter. Cheerbleederz know it too well and with their new four-track EP ‘(Prove Me Wrong)’ they’ve captured it perfectly.
A whole three years has passed since Cheerbleederz released their debut record ‘Even In Jest’. It seems like only five minutes ago, but that record proved they had the knack for writing thoughtful, entertaining songs and could sequence them into a clear narrative. Here they’re using the same skills and playing with their established sound; drums, guitar, bass, vocals, to create delightful, slow-burning indie rock songs that show off a mastery of tone.
As the product of a slightly incestuous music scene, Cheerbleederz is a kind of ‘supergroup’. Made up of Phoebe Cross, Kathryn Woods and Sophie MacKenzie, they’ve played with bands such as Fresh, ME REX, Felicette and Happy Accidents meaning they have a lot of experience, but they also have chemistry – that indefinable something that makes their work so intoxicating. Time is on their minds. It’s a theme running through the EP, seemingly brought on by the band entering their 30’s. Indeed an air of melancholy to proceedings and not just on ‘Sleepwalking’ where they directly discuss growing older. Indeed, the songs have the slightly disconcerting feeling of sitting around with old friends; of thoughtful conversations about the past.
The songs have a slow-tempo, slightly off-kilter feel and Rich Mandell’s production captures a tender, surprisingly textured sound. Each of the four tracks has its own personality and details. ‘Passenger Princess’ is a tale of co-dependence where the observational lyrics and gentle hook are delightful but it’s the backing vocal which blurs the line between ‘need me’ and ‘beep-beep’ that’s really smart. It’s also interesting to hear the rough edges of ‘I Deserved Better’ distort as the energy levels change and the way the nocturnal feel of ‘You Got It In For Me’ builds slowly into sonic equivalent of warm, reassuring hug.
All four songs thread between waning enthusiasm and melancholy. So while the impression is of friends having the time of their lives, it’s also haunted by the strange melancholy of shifting life stages. The opening song ‘I Deserved Better’ captures this perfectly, juxtaposing downbeat musings and phrases like ‘I feel so lonely all the time’ with buoyant cries of ‘ba-ba-da-ba-ba-DA!’. During the final chorus the vocals crack, like the singer is laughing through tears, revealing that, for all its energy, it’s a helplessly sad piece of songwriting.
The EP captures the weary persistence found at a house party, long after everyone has gone. Of three weary friends sitting chatting, then heading off to bed with a glass of water. The implication is that things might not last forever, but they find joy in being together.
In times of change ‘(Prove Me Wrong)’ is a delightful, affecting EP that’s as comforting as a mug of warm tea.
IAN KENWORTHY
A whole three years has passed since Cheerbleederz released their debut record ‘Even In Jest’. It seems like only five minutes ago, but that record proved they had the knack for writing thoughtful, entertaining songs and could sequence them into a clear narrative. Here they’re using the same skills and playing with their established sound; drums, guitar, bass, vocals, to create delightful, slow-burning indie rock songs that show off a mastery of tone.
As the product of a slightly incestuous music scene, Cheerbleederz is a kind of ‘supergroup’. Made up of Phoebe Cross, Kathryn Woods and Sophie MacKenzie, they’ve played with bands such as Fresh, ME REX, Felicette and Happy Accidents meaning they have a lot of experience, but they also have chemistry – that indefinable something that makes their work so intoxicating. Time is on their minds. It’s a theme running through the EP, seemingly brought on by the band entering their 30’s. Indeed an air of melancholy to proceedings and not just on ‘Sleepwalking’ where they directly discuss growing older. Indeed, the songs have the slightly disconcerting feeling of sitting around with old friends; of thoughtful conversations about the past.
The songs have a slow-tempo, slightly off-kilter feel and Rich Mandell’s production captures a tender, surprisingly textured sound. Each of the four tracks has its own personality and details. ‘Passenger Princess’ is a tale of co-dependence where the observational lyrics and gentle hook are delightful but it’s the backing vocal which blurs the line between ‘need me’ and ‘beep-beep’ that’s really smart. It’s also interesting to hear the rough edges of ‘I Deserved Better’ distort as the energy levels change and the way the nocturnal feel of ‘You Got It In For Me’ builds slowly into sonic equivalent of warm, reassuring hug.
All four songs thread between waning enthusiasm and melancholy. So while the impression is of friends having the time of their lives, it’s also haunted by the strange melancholy of shifting life stages. The opening song ‘I Deserved Better’ captures this perfectly, juxtaposing downbeat musings and phrases like ‘I feel so lonely all the time’ with buoyant cries of ‘ba-ba-da-ba-ba-DA!’. During the final chorus the vocals crack, like the singer is laughing through tears, revealing that, for all its energy, it’s a helplessly sad piece of songwriting.
The EP captures the weary persistence found at a house party, long after everyone has gone. Of three weary friends sitting chatting, then heading off to bed with a glass of water. The implication is that things might not last forever, but they find joy in being together.
In times of change ‘(Prove Me Wrong)’ is a delightful, affecting EP that’s as comforting as a mug of warm tea.
IAN KENWORTHY