by Susie Salva

Chairlift, a multi-instrumental three-piece rock band, currently hailing from Brooklyn, New York, play a thoughtful, dream-filled techno-pop music combining unforgettable melody with an interesting production and a classical avant-garde sensibility embracing the future. At times it feels as though they are channeling the Yeah, Yeah, Yeah’s similarly from New York City both a trio and putting forth techno/electronica vibes ever so present in our musical landscape.

Chairlift is expansive and cinematic, its name evoking an ever-changing vantage point rising (or falling) above the ground. When it came time to write and record the songs for “Does You Inspire You,” the band’s debut album, the members of Chairlift drew on a vast array of pop influences, finding echoes of country western pathos in “Don’t Give A Damn,” a swaying emo-samba in “Make Your Mind Up,” and an ironically sunny evocation of love’s turmoils in, “Bruises,” (which was the ironic soundtrack for a 2008 iPod Nano campaign). The song has an electronica backbeat and a rousing choir with a memorable haunting chorus that is iconic to the band.

“Planet Health,” the second track leads off with birds chirping and Japanese melodies crescendo into pure, breathy ecstasy. “Evident Utensil,” evokes the most simple of utensils the pencil. The song makes quick use of the synthesizer.“Le Flying Saucer Hat,” tips its hat to ‘80s synth-rock utilizing French conversation against uptempo techno-music.

Chairlift is: Aaron Pfenning, an experimental minimalist guitar player, who creates the delicate haunting quality of Chairlift, Caroline Polachek, a Connecticut-born singer whose vocals shape-shift for the ethereal to the earthly to evanescent depending on the needs of the song; and Patrick Wimberly, a Nashville native whose decision to study jazz and orchestral arrangements at university brought him into the radius of the band.

The initial success of “Does You Inspire You,” released on the Brooklyn-based indie Kanine label in September 2008 led to the signing of Chairlift to Columbia Records. For the group’s major label debut, Chairlift remixed and mastered “Does You Inspire You,” and included two new tracks, “Dixie Gypsy,” and “Le Flying Saucer Hat.” For more on Chairlift please go to: www.chairliftmusic.com www.myspace.com/chairlift columbiarecords.com