A Lull

Chicago's A Lull is nearly impossible to describe without qualifiers. Equal parts mystical and primal, the music crafted by these five multi-instrumentalists gathers the recognizable traits of a half dozen indie micro-genres, tosses out all but the stem cells, then adds the calculated, percussive verve of a half dozen rhythm sections on top of beautifully crafted songwriting to result in a sound that is as unique as it is memorable. A Lull blurs the lines between the synthesized and organic. The evocative lyrics and vocals of Nigel Evan Dennis are engulfed with music elements that live on the barriers between guitars, electronics, and effects, then (with each member of the band having at one point banged on a drum) covered with endless layers of percussion. Recording the music themselves, the band is not confined to traditional studio techniques or time constraints, and the obsessive attention to detail shows. Employing anything available to create beats, melodies, textures and layers of sound, A Lull's sonic landscape is experimental in the ways that it takes form, yet at the same time inherently musical.

"Chicago avant-pop sextet A Lull have a full-length scheduled to drop later this year; in the meantime, they've made a 7", "Weapons For War/Spread It All Around", available for free download over at their MySpace. The A-side features pounding, layered percussion and warm vocalizing." -- Pitchfork