Longface & Atsuko Chiba

Mark your calendars WIDR listeners and get down with us at Shakespeares lower level for our Battle Ground celebration Friday, March 23rd. Our battle of the bands 2018 winner and your “fan favorite” will be performing alongside touring bands Atsuko Chiba and Longface!

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Atsuko Chiba is a liberizing band from Montreal, Canada whose sound ventures beyond the boundaries of genre conformity. They have revamped a blended sound of experimental prog- rock, post-punk, hip-hop, and psychedelica, creating their own exceptional sound. Their experimental compositions carry you across an unpredictable soundscape generating both soothing and dissonant tones. Their unshared sound spawns a rare experience for listeners, an inventive aesthetic. Atsuko Chiba has self released all their music, including their recent 2016 EP, The Memory Empire.

Hailing from the city of Chicago, Longface presents a folky brew of twangy pop-rock. Kentucky born lead vocalist and guitarist, Anthony Focareto’s idea of Longface was inspired by the tensions of modern reality. The band creates a musical narrative expressing the desire to retire from the weight of urban society while being conflicted with enriching opportunities of artistic growth. This paradox creates both playful satire and solemn disclosure throughout their music. The smooth vocals, transcendent melodies, variance from soft-folky inflections to an erupting grunge of guitars and heavy rock produces a collaborative work of art.

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Here’s a collaborative playlist made up of bands:

1. “Wasabi Hands” , by Atsuko Chiba off the EP The Memory Empire

A thrilling vigor in vocal delivery. Singer Karim Lakhdar throws you right into this psychedelic rock tune. The rigid rhythm drives this piece along with the hip-hop energized vocals and clean guitar.

2. “Demonsta Titillates” , by Atsuko Chiba off the EP The Memory Empire

The erie introduction to this lengthy arrangement keeps listeners on high alert as it fluently transitions over to steady guitar riffs. The sharp stop cuts the sound, sending listeners into a whirlwind of psychedelic rage.

3. “Crescent Moon” , by Longface off the album Hillbilly Wit

This charming song is the first track on their newest release. It’s delicate melody and pleasing vocal harmonies resemble a lullaby, a first taste of the playful irony present throughout the album. The lyrics describe longing for the view of a crescent moon descending over an orchard. Instead, they only find the moon slamming beers.

4. “Deep Fried American Dreams” , by Longface off the album Hillbilly Wit

Riding off that delicate intro, track two is met with a bitter explosion of astringent rock.

The disorienting vocals and screeching guitar seem to be pulling Longface down the rabbit hole of reality.

5. “Panicopation” , by Atsuko Chiba off the EP The Memory Empire

This song really illuminates the unexpectedness of their sound as a whole. They pull you from a hard and clean cut rhythm drivin section and send you into a mesmerizing build of synth. The use of layering the keyboard adds a nice touch to this tune.

6. “Hillbilly Wit” , by Longface off the album Hillbilly Wit

This eponymous track continues with the experimental rock sound, adding a touch of blue illumination with female vocals accompanying Focareto with harmony. Lyrically, this song is a great account of their musical satire and the different characters represented in the albums universe.

7. “Escameteur” , by Atsuko Chiba off the album Jinn

Changing gears, this song provides a highly contrasting feel in comparison to the mass collection of heavier tunes. Being the first track on their album, its hypnotic sound does a fantastic job reeling in listeners. The vocals and flute present intoxicating tribal undertones, leaving you with wanting more.

8. “Crime Jazz” , by Longface off the album Hillbilly Wit

Slowing down and creating a more placid feel, Focareto’s smooth vocals are almost reminiscent of Thom Yorke. The separate harmonic recordings of his voice skim smoothly over top of his melody, creating a glossy feel.

9. “Tidings” , by Atsuko Chiba off the single Figure and Ground

With a similar vocal sounds as Wasabi Hands, the hip-hop derived vocals aggressively call your attention. The use of synth and pedal really embellish the sound while the screaming vocals and sweeping guitar drive the song home.

10. “Candy Store Robbers” , by Longface off the album Hillbilly Wit

This tune leans towards the soft-rock side... or as Longface has called it, “dad rock”. This easy going, rainy day tune has a sweet melody with lots of color in the harmonies.