SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: TCHOTCHKE – PLAYIN’ DUMB

TCHOTCHKE
PLAYIN’ DUMB
INDEPENDENT

Tchotchke is based in New York City and consists of Anastasia Sanchez (drums, vocals), Eva Chambers (bass, piano, keyboards vocals) and Emily Tooraen (guitar, vocals). If anyone wanted to know what The Roaches would sound like in the 2020s, wonder no more. Although they are not folk, these three youngsters have the same tight harmonies as The Roches and have come up with very catchy indie pop songs and a great deal of fun.

Playin’ Dumb is a collection of short (the longest song is 3:10, with only two other songs even hitting the three-minute mark), powerful bursts of energy. Their harmonies mix with great back beats and great musical arrangements. The short solos by Tooraen fit the songs beautifully, much like George Harrison’s guitar solos on early Beatles albums. “Poor Girl” (the longest track on the album) for example, hops along and has a great guitar solo before the group goes back to the basics of the song. Keep an ear out for the wonderful organ in the song by Chambers too.

The thing about Tchotchke is that their arrangements are spot on. The Lemon Twigs produced the album and put their pop sensibilities to work with the band. They have not turned it into a Lemon Twigs album, but at the same time they use all that they have learned over the years to help the trio come up with that distinct nostalgic sound. There are little quirks in some of the songs, such as the musical break in “Jealousy”, which works and takes an ordinary pop song and makes it more interesting. Michael D’Addario does provide some instrumentation.

“Now I Love You” is the closest thing to a ballad that you will hear on the album, and even then, it is closer to early 1970s Harry Nilsson than a straight ballad. It is a beautiful, charming song. And the band saves the best for last with the wonderful Wall of Sound title track, “Playin’ Dumb”, which is almost a manifesto. It is a brilliant song and an incredible way to end the album.

Tchotchke has come up with a very unique album, one that demands an instant replay when it is over. None of the songs, or the album, overstay their welcome and the trio creates a sound that is steeped in pop music history, while creating a whole new sound. It is quite an achievement. Tchotchke’s Playin’ Dumb is a great album that is multi-layered and in some ways complex. It is easy to listen to and to digest, but there is a lot going on in the album.

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