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Review Sat Oct 07 2006
A Review of Pit Er Pat's Pyramids
Pit er Pat are one hard group to pin down. The Chicago-based trio, as led by keyboardist/vocalist Fey Davis-Jeffers, drummer Butchy Fuego and bassist Rob Doran (who, surprisingly, is also a founding member of emo punk group Alkaline Trio), churn out a deceptive mix of avant-rock, freeform jazz and indie rock. Their second full-length album, Pyramids, quietly begins with the jazzy “Brain Monster,” before launching into “Seasick (Hang Ten),” a chanty shanty featuring Davis-Jeffers’ simple, plaintive singing style against a rhythm of watery gurgles. Tracks meld into one another, creating a sonic landscapea format fitting to the Pit er Pat style of apparent “let’s just see where this takes us next” wanderings. Songs tend toward the ethereal — the band often gets comparisons to later Blonde Redhead — though Fuego and Doran lend a powerfully heavy hand on tribal thumps throughout. It’s a good tactic, and keeps the listener on his or her toes; these aren’t just songs you can space out to, but dance along with, if you’re so inclined.
