- Label: 'Happy Happy Birthday To Me/ Too Good To Be True'
- Genre: 'Indie'
- Release Date: '7.11.25.'- Catalogue No: 'HHBTM 234/TOOGOOD46'
Our Rating:
This is the self-titled debut album by Richmond Virginia's The Melody Chamber who are the house band at Sound Of Music Studios where the album was recorded and mixed by Dan-O Deckleman, who is joined in The Melody Chamber by Blee Child, Wallace Dietz and Randy Mendicino with special guests Jessica Pooley and George Laks. The album comes in a silk screen fold over cover with inserts.
The a-side opens with Memories Of Fall that evokes scenes of falling leaves and fallen friends, sorrow and pain of moving past, yet always reminded of the passing each successive fall, the intoxicating melody drawing you in, evoking what made those you’ve lost special and what made them light up your life.
This Train isn't a gospel classic, instead is melodic chamber pop, searching for truth while you try not to get bit. The Boy That Fell Into The Sun is the kind of guy that loves the Lilac Time and jangling wallflower guitars, he loves Hut Records output and probably owns more Felt bootlegs than most people you know.
She's Painting Zebras and that means they love her all the more, almost as much as they love the Doors keyboard sound, when you transpose it into fey indie songs, perfect for getting the girl of your dreams to paint Zebras on all your doors and then her toe nails too.
Stop Making Sense go on get rid of all your Talking Heads records and wallow in this sylph like waif of an indie pop song. They hope everyone will sing along with them, loping bassline may help the crowd to keep in time with them.
The B-side opens with the latest song called Maryanne, not as drug soaked as some of the others, this is a gorgeous duet with laid back guitars and a contented feel, while they wonder where Maryanne went.
One Plus One has the feel of the orchestral versions of China Crisis' hits, while they dream of the greats of the silver screen, guitar solo reaches for blue skies and summer days arguing over if the title is a subtle nod to Haircut 100 or not.
Pieces of the Puzzle include an 80's souls funk bassline, 90's almost baggy guitars, questions of what changed your emotions and will you ever fit back together again.
Step Out Of The Shadows could be a message for the bands army of wallflower indie fans to finally tear themselves away from that safe space and go off on an adventure with The Melody Chamber, they want to take you places you've never been before, let them be your inspiration to take that moonlight walk.
The album closes with Starlight Kisses that come when you take that moonlit walk with them, vocals have gone all hushed conspiratorial whispers, soft brass backing for the quest to redeem you and help you transform, echoes of Spanish guitars and late period Blow Monkeys while they hope to ride off into the early morning light.
Find out more at https://www.hhbtm.com/product/the-melody-chamber/ https://toogoodtobetruerecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-melody-chamber https://www.facebook.com/themelodychamber
