Chon – ‘Grow’ [Review]
My face seems to think it’s Halloween, because I can’t stop grinning like a carved-up pumpkin after hearing this album.
CHON are a truly unique band capable of blending Disney-cute melodies with hard-driving hypersyncopated grooves (as on Grow opener Book, featuring Animals As Leaders drummist Matt Garstka) and intimidating time signature changes (second track But, again pinned down by AAL’s animalistic skin-beater). Add in sparkly fusion chords, polished-but-not-clinical production, and sublime vocals (entering on Can’t Wait) and…damn. If you’ve not been scared off by the six-letter F-word, this is your dream come true.
Highlights? How about every single moment? This may sound hyperbolic, but fuck it – it’s true. Grow has been seven years in the making, and they were seven years well spent. Echo is blissfully serene pop given a punishing nipple-tweak; Fall is a rhythmic cluster-glitter-bomb; Knot is three minutes of tasteful shred-happiness; interludes Drift and Moon are gloriously delicate; Perfect Pillow digs into gritty riffs and beautiful harmony lines; Splash belly-flops into melodies that Guthrie Govan would be proud to have penned; Story bobs and weaves like a boxing butterfly; and Suda closes proceedings with poise, elegance, and grace.
Phew. If you need me, I’ll be trying to get my face back to normal before the wind changes.
TMMP RATING: 96% (Essential Listening!)
Links
Grow drops September 25 via Sumerian Records – follow CHON on Facebook and Twitter for more details.
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