Albums by this artist

Systems/Layers (2003)

Full On Night (2000)

Selenography (1999)

The Sea And The Bells (Recommended) (1996)

Concerts

May 28, 2000
Chicago,

Features

Noble Causes:
Published May 22, 2000

Interviews

Another Layer
July 23, 2003

Rachel's

Selenography

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» JONATHAN COHEN | SENIOR EDITOR

Rachel's Selenography Quarterstick/Touch And Go, 1999 RiYL: Phillip Glass, Steve Reich, Erik Satie, Bill Frisell

Since its inception in the early part of the decade, the Louisville-based music collective known as Rachel's has been, to say the least, an anomaly on the radar screen of American indie rock. Eschewing vocals and a standard guitar/bass/drums lineup, the band instead operates as a mini-chamber orchestra featuring viola, cello, piano and horns as well as drums/percussion, guitar and electric bass. Writing duties are split evenly by Jason Noble (ex-Rodan), Christian Frederickson and Rachel Grimes, ensuring a variety of moods and methods. During concerts, films shown by Gregory King help suggest meanings for Rachel's often open-ended creations.

Selenography, the group's fourth album, sees a significant turn away from 1995's purely orchestral Music For Egon Schiele record, and in general comes off a bit more loose-limbed than 1996's excellent The Sea And The Bells. More than half of the songs were recorded live with all band members in the room at once, resulting in standouts like "A French Gallease" and the Steve Reich-inflected "Kentucky Nocture" that bridge the gap between American minimalism and the experimental leanings of the indie-rock world.

And although Rachel's aren't pawning off their violas for Fender Stratocasters just yet, the band ventures about as far into "rock" territory on Selenography as it ever has. Bass and guitar are more prominent than ever before. On rousing tracks such as "An Evening Of Long Goodbyes," simple bongo drums and Noble's undulating bass line amply support tingling vibes, fingerpicked acoustic guitar and the string section's stern counter melody. The band even jumps feet-first into the world of electronic music on the soundtrack-ready "The Mysterious Disappearance Of Louis LePrince" and "Artemisia," where blasts of steam encircle treated drum machine beats and vocal narration from Uzeda singer Giovanna Cacciola.

To be sure, diversity is Selenography's strongest suit. As if to counterbalance the more band-oriented tracks, the three-part "Honeysuckle Suite" is a straight-up harpsichord composition by Grimes, while "On Demeter" and "Cuts The Metal Cold," both staples of the band's past few rounds of touring, reprise the refined pacing of The Sea And The Bells highlights like "Lloyd's Register."

Because Rachel's is so unlike any other current group, its music is not easily digested. And although Selenography is more ear-friendly to the casual listener than some of the group's other albums, it's nevertheless a record that reveals its many pleasures on repeated plays. A job well done.

JONATHAN COHEN | Jonathan Cohen co-created Nude As The News with his Indiana University mates Troy Carpenter and Ben French. When not traversing the globe for business and pleasure, he holds down the fort as a senior editor for Billboard in New York. Stop him and he just may ask, "what for lunch?"