PRESS

Tones are Falling

Last issue I wished for an Elephant 6 gift for Xmas. Well, not this time. BUT. Some weeks before December arrived I received a disc holding sort of E6 influenced tones. The Channel claim to be inspired by Beach Boys, Beatles and the pop sound of the Elephant 6 collective. Yes, it's true, and yes it's good!
Tip-toed, good-hearted, slightly psychedelic pop is what hides on Tones Are Falling, the Channel's first album offering. In fact the copy I'm holding is a remixed, remastered version of the original album. The Channel personnel (or, dare I say collective) count Brent Pennington (vocals, electric guitar, keyboard, mandolin), Colby Pennington (vocals, guitars, harmonica), Jamie Reaves (steel guitar, percussion, keyboard, electric guitar, vocals), Andy McAllister (drums, etc) and Heather Pennington (keyboard, electric guitar, vocals). The family grows bigger - literary speaking - on this album with additional playing by Rebecca Pennington and Ben Reaves (both trumpet) and Kimberley Pennington (on fiddle, chorus). Even tough this album was recorded back in 2001, this, the revised version was put out some months back into last year.
Tones Are Falling starts out reminding me of some of Olivia Tremor Control's stuff. Not bad! In fact very good! Songs like the opening (not counting the intro) song "Paul Bee and His Nutria" and "Renee Bobotics". "Green Grass" makes me think of YO La Tengo's (the James McNew written) "Stockholm Syndrome". Then comes the sort of Neutral Milk Hotel meets the Beatles track "The Tide". Or should I mention the very fine steel-driven ballad "No Tears".
All in all Tones Are Falling is very, very good, and it keeps growing on me. It's a colorful and festive album. Tune in to the channel yourself as well. You won't regret it.
Copyright © 2004 Håvard Oppøyen
http://www.lunakafe.com/moon89/ustx89.php
(the above is a slightly edited version of what is on the website because it had some incorrect information about other releases.)

Any A&R people who have only just heard the Flaming Lips and are looking around for something similar to sign should be chasing The Channel. Having been creating their own sound in Austin, Texas since August 2001 this isn’t for D4 fans, but is an altogether gentler vibe. Quite Beatlesy and psychedelic, but with a charming feel like a faster Belle and Sebastian, this is sumptuous, sunny music, all Pet Sounds harmonies and production but with odd lo-fi sounds wandering in an out like friends at a BBQ. A great voice, singing simple songs with strange but beautiful lyrics like “I left all my happiness in the lagoon” it’s the sound of contemplation in the back of a faded pick up truck. Only the occasional self-indulgence over-doing the sound effects mars a brilliant album.
Reviewed by Mangusta
http://www.soundsxp.com/albums/demos1.html