Chap / We Are The Best

Lo Recordings

An enigma within an enigma, a band like no other, a musical riddle, a legend in their own lunchbox, The Chap keeps on keeping on, proving the rest of the world wrong, creating a universe that’s all their own. This timely reminder collects the finest moments of their decade-long career. We Are the Best covers all periods of their gestation. From the motorik, melodious “Auto Where To” and the perceptive, poignant “We Work in Bars” to the thunderous “(I Am) Oozing Emotion,” this high-class esoteric pop music is 100% The Chap. Sure, there are echoes of other influences, but ultimately all is trampled underfoot, engulfed, swallowed whole, distilled and reborn. “I Got Flattened by a Pig Farmer” sounds like nothing else, with its disco strings, minimal beats and warped vocals; “Remember Elvis Rex” is irresistible and surreal in equal measures. Early classic “Le Theme” is given a makeover for this collection and sounds even more insane and anthemic, like Warm Jets-period Eno in agony. “Ethnic Instrument” is beyond bizarre, “Carlos Walter Wendy Stanley” is like Peter Pan on acid, and there’s so much more—fifteen tracks of undiluted Chapness, including the previously unreleased “Campaign Trail.” If Vic Reeves was a pop star, he would dream of making this music; if Elvis Presley was still alive, this might be the music of his nightmares; if Salvador Dali was a biscuit, then The Chap would be the cheese. If you don’t know them by now, then it’s about time you find out.

• SHARE

  •  Twitter
  •  Stumbleupon
  •  Digg
  •  del.icio.us
  •  Facebook
  •  Mixx