School Of Seven Bells

New York's School of Seven Bells has been described as shoegaze, dreampop, ethereal, and any number of other completely meaningless genre distinctions.  Comprised of the identical twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza and Benjamin Curtis, formerly of Secret Machines, the band released their second full length, Disconnect from Desire, in July of 2010.  I was pretty much floored the second I heard it.  So much so that their first album, Alpinisms, should be arriving in the mail shortly. 

Working with a completely backasswards technique, the group actually writes their lyrics before anything else.  The rest is all added in to the tracks later in what they describe as simple "accompaniment."  Well whatever they're doing, it works.  Blending the textures of the old 4AD records dreampoppy sound (primarily Cocteau Twins and early Dead Can Dance) with the droning shoegaze of acts like Ride and M83 and catchy synthpop hooks reminiscent of Ladytron (this Ladytron, not this Ladytron, though both are great), they've managed to create a very satisfying and relaxing listening experience.  If you like any of the groups I've mentioned, you'll love School of Seven Bells.  If you haven't heard of any of those groups, but like what you're about to here, go back and follow those links.  I promise you won't regret it. 

Here are some videos from Disconnect from Desire