Here Comes The Birds

Ravens & Chimes
Genre: Indie
From: New York, United States

Asher Lack the leader of Ravens and Chimes took time out from recording their new album and rehearsing for their CMJ show on Friday 23rd October at the Mercury Lounge to chew the virtual fat with the Devil.

The Devil: Why Ravens & Chimes? What other names did you ponder before deciding on Ravens & Chimes?

Asher: We were called Lost At Sea at first but they're were 8 or 9 other bands called Lost At Sea and most of them were hardcore. The record company gave us a week to change our name so we didn't have much time to argue over it. I was driving to a wedding in rural Canada and this gigantic black bird flew by the car. It reminded me of the first time I ever saw a raven when I visited The Tower of London and I had this flurry of random thoughts somehow combined into Ravens and Chimes.

We sometimes tell people that it was the name of a 19th century secret society though.

The Devil: Who are your biggest influences?

Asher: Donna Tartt's book The Secret History had a big affect on me as a writer. She captured loneliness, obsession, and regret so dead on that you can't help but identify with the struggle of the narrator even when your being lead down some very morally questionable pathways.

Musically and lyrically Leonard Cohen's first two albums (Songs and Songs From A Room) have been a pretty constant thing for me since I was 16. The production is antique without being affected or posed out. They have a depth in the lyrics that is matched perfectly by the instrumentation, the melodies, and the way it is all recorded. I think he's one of the only songwriters whose lyrics you could print and they would not lose any of their meaning or strength on the page.

Howard Bilerman who recorded Reichenbach Falls is also someone who has had a big effect on me. He makes records that don't sound like anything people have ever done. His stuff has definitely inspired me to try and look beyond the limitations of going with a sound that's momentarily popular.

The Devil: What was the first record you owned and what was the first record you ever bought?

Asher: My uncle used to play me The Smiths, The Stranglers, The Cure, Depeche Mode, and all those new wave bands when he would babysit for me. I didn't realize it until I got to college and discovered that I knew all the words to these records that I had no memory of hearing before.

The first record I bought with my own money was Melancholy And The Infinite Sadness at a used shop on St. Marks Place that isn't there anymore. My mother gave me a bunch of records before that thought. All The Beatles albums on cassette and Nirvana's In Utero. She was a huge Nirvana fan.

The Devil: What makes Ravens & Chimes stand out from the millions of other bands in the world? What makes you unique?

Asher: There are two answers to this one I think. More immediately what separates our music from many of our colleagues is the fine line between making sure there is depth in every element of the work (from the chords and lyrics to the emotions behind it all) and maintaining an immediate emotional reality to what's going on in the song.

We struggle really hard to make sure that every musical and lyrical decision is what's best suited to serve the song while still trying to hold on to that sense of emotional presence and urgency that made the song happen in the first place. The hope is that ultimately it resonates with the listener on a very visceral and immediate level but also has a symmetry that holds up to closer or repeated listening where more meaning comes out over time.

I guess a lot of other bands do this as well but it's not often I hear something that really takes me there right away and then makes me want to sit down and pick apart. It's not often that I write something that makes me do that either which is I guess what makes it so special (to me at least) when it does happen.

The other thing that separates us from other groups is our future potential. Obviously I don't want to toot our own horns too much but I do think that as a group we have a great ability to see outside our own box and I think that is something that is worth taking note of and makes me excited to see and be a part of what we're going to do in the future.

The Devil: What's the strangest place you've ever played and would you go back there?

Asher: We played at a house in Olympia that you could smell from across the street. I think I would go back there but only if I could leave right after the show.

The Devil: Other than Ravens & Chimes who are the most exciting bands on the music scene at the moment?

Asher: We went to college with the guys from Grizzly Bear so we're all big supporters of their work and are super proud of their success.

In terms of other acts I think I usually latch on one or two elements of what a group is doing that really push my button. Right now I love the new White Rabbits record and we've been wanting to play a show with The Walkmen since seeing them play at CMJ in 2007. Victoria LeGrand from Beach House has a voice that makes me melt inside.

Also Jay Reatard makes me want to jump up and down every time I hear him. He is like a big drug addled gorilla.

The Devil: If you weren't in Ravens & Chimes how would you keep yourself occupied?

Asher: Probably I would be standing outside of the NY Stock Exchange with a sign that says "THE END IS NEIGH".

Since doing this is about communicating a lot of abstract stuff in a clear way I think if music wasn't an option for whatever reason I would be trying to channel that energy into writing or taking pictures or making movies. Something to communicate a certain point of view.

The Devil: What are you doing to beat the recession? Any tips on saving money for the Devil's readers?

Asher: Whenever I get home I take all the change in my pocket and put it in a jar. It's the closest thing to a savings account I have.

The Devil: If you were interviewing yourself what would be your killer question and how would you answer it?

Asher: I always want to know what piece of work makes people feel so intensely that they don't know what to do with themselves. Something that they find so appealing that they love it but also feel almost guilty for devoting so much energy to it. The way Salieri feels about Mozart in Amadeus. I can think of one thing that made me feel that way but it's very embarassing to admit. I guess that's why I always want to ask it of others.

The Devil: What's your favourite joke?

Asher: When someone trips and falls and someone else says "oh that's a shame". Always cracks me up.

The Devil: Anything else you'd like to say the the Devil's readers?

Asher: Thanks for supporting the music.

Go Try

MP3 - Ravens & Chimes - Hearts of Palm
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Ravens & Chimes - Myspace // Website // Last.FM

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