Asian Junkie Asian pop. Without discretion.
Before Asian Chairshot arrived in Austin for SXSW 2015, they spent a week in Chicago recording with Jeff Schroeder. ‘Rain Shower‘ is the result of the session, and it presents a new sound for the band that hasn’t been heard before. Overall, the EP presents an alternate side of the band with broader songs, different from their full-length ‘Horizon‘.
—–
Listening to “Perfect Breeding” will get you a first taste of the evolution their sound has undergone. It’s more aggressive and powerful than other songs, but still features the talent of the band. Youngwon‘s vocals are clear and audible above the instruments, with extra effects adding to the feeling of the songs. The biggest difference has to be the recording and mixing of the songs. There’s so much power behind Heenam‘s guitar and Kyewan‘s drumming, but even with all the power that’s going into each song, everything is clear and audible. It’s really great being able to hear every drum stroke while it’s still not overpowering other instruments.
Asian Chairshot does feature a throwback to their previous sound with “In The Rain Shower”, and the recording gives it a precise attack. Youngwon’s vocals haven’t sounded this clear and melodic before, and I think “In the Rain Shower” is my favorite song on the EP. It has a simultaneous haunting and powerful sound that runs throughout each verse, and Heenam’s guitar is perfect on the song, while the female backing vocals by Katie Cole really add to the atmosphere.
“Butterfly” is the last song and sounds like standard Asian Chairshot. It’s a mix of repeating melodies guided by Youngwon’s vocals. The drums sit in the back, but add different effects. It sounds like there were some extra effects added to the core drum line, and synth drums were added to give a different tone to the song.
—–
After seeing the energy of the band live, it’s obvious they have a lot of talent. ‘Rain Shower’ would probably sound a lot different if it was recorded in South Korea, and the week Asian Chairshot spent in Chicago resulted in an amazing EP. If you liked ‘Horizon’, then know that ‘Rain Shower’ is even better.
=====
