Miss Chain & The Broken Heels - Storms

It is always a pleasure to come across new music from Italy's Miss Chain & The Broken Heels. This band, to me, represents pure class and everything that is great about music. I first encountered the band when it was playing classic power pop at the end of the 2000s, and since then Astrid and the gang have gone through a remarkable progression that is still on-going. There was a big jump from the band's early singles to its first album On a Bittersweet Ride, and there was an even bigger jump to its second album The Dawn. A decade after the release of The Dawn, Miss Chain & The Broken Heels treat us to the extraordinary follow-up Storms. No longer a "power pop" band per se but most definitely the epitome of great pop, Miss Chain & The Broken Heels have delivered a sophisticated and accomplished release befitting their status as one of the most beloved bands in the worldwide independent music scene. Astrid, Franz, Silva, and Johnny bring together elements of '60s pop music, country rock, rhythm & blues, garage rock, folk, girl groups, and indie rock to create a dreamy, melody-driven sound that is distinctively theirs. Storms is not an album for casual listening. It's a record you will want to immerse yourself in and fully experience. Play it while you're taking a long solitary walk or chilling on the couch with a cup of coffee and contemplating your life. Astrid's voice, so immediately recognizable, has taken on new depths as it has matured. And when it comes to musical talent, you won't hear a better band than The Broken Heels. Recorded by the band's former drummer Brown Barcella and Alessio Lonati and produced and mastered by its best pal Riccardo Zamboni, Storms sounds absolutely stunning. The songs and production fit each other like a glove. 

Miss Chain & The Broken Heels were one of the first bands I ever reviewed for this blog way back in July 2011. They've managed to move beyond their punk rock roots without abandoning them, and one can only hope that it won't be another decade before we hear from them again. Storms is available from the band's own label, Wild Honey Records. 

-L.R

https://misschainandthebrokenheels.bandcamp.com/album/storms 
https://wildhoneyrecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/misschainandthebrokenheels
https://open.spotify.com/album/4CQpBTw2yqBZAHnaXLWhyv
https://www.instagram.com/misschainandthebrokenheels/
https://li.sten.to/storms
https://www.facebook.com/wildhoneyrecords/

Wild Honey Records - The Benefit of Things To Come

Having been a fan of Italy's Wild Honey Records for a number of years, I would have had a great interest in a compilation album from the label regardless of the circumstances. But The Benefit of Things To Come is a project I especially support because of the purpose behind it. The label is based in Bergamo - a city that has been absolutely decimated by the COVID-19 outbreak. Inspired by outpourings of love from all over the world, Wild Honey came up with the idea of assembling a digital compilation to support the new field hospital built by volunteers in Bergamo. 100% of the proceeds from this release are being donated. All of the bands and artists on this compilation have released music on Wild Honey. And for this occasion, they all contributed a previously unreleased track. I'd be lying if I told you I didn't immediately jump to Miss Chain & The Broken Heels covering "Be With Me" by The Yum Yums. And of course I love the track to pieces! I was also super stoked to come across an unreleased Beach Patrol song and a fine cover of Love's "Alone Again Or" by The Peawees. As expected with exclusively unreleased material, there's a mix of covers, outtakes, demos, and recent quarantine recordings. That said, this is a genuinely good collection that gives you a great feel for the roots rock and roll, blues, folk, indie rock, punk, and pop that Wild Honey has been putting into the world for years. I especially enjoy the songs from MojoMatt, The Goodnight Loving, Bad Sports, and Kenny Tudrick. And who wouldn't want to hear The Rubinoos cover an old Brill Building classic?

I love not just the cause behind The Benefit of Things To Come but also its broader purpose. It's about the idea that rock and roll, beyond just being exciting music, can be a powerful tool "to show the world there is another way". Bands and record labels put out the music we love, but they also have the power to do real good in the world. This collection started with a wonderful idea, but it only became possible because so many bands were willing to be a part of it. If this is your first exposure to the Wild Honey roster, you will surely discover some great new bands to check out. And longtime fans will of course be thrilled to hear new tracks from so many old favorites. In more ways than one, this will be €10 very well spent.  



-L.R.

https://wildhoneyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-benefit-of-things-to-come
https://www.facebook.com/wildhoneyrecords/

New Miss Chain single!

I can't think of a better way to end another year of reviews than with a post on my longtime favorites Miss Chain & The Broken Heels! It has been a really long time since we've heard from Italy's finest musical export. "Uh Uh" is the band's first release since 2013's fantastic LP The Dawn - and its first new single since 2012. I must say it does not disappoint. Essentially Miss Chain & The Broken Heels have evolved over many years from a great power pop band into a great pop band, period. Astrid's voice - so lovely and warm and expressive- has been served well by maturity. "Uh Uh" is upbeat, twangy pop with a knockout melody. It's likely to send you into a frenzy of head-bobbing or impromptu dancing. On the flip, "Standing the Night" slows the pace and mellows out the vibe. It's just so pretty, with standout harmonies and guitar work. Even with the band members taking some well-deserved time off after extensive touring for The Dawn, the magic is still there. I couldn't be happier with these two songs! Get the single from Bachelor Records, and let's cross our fingers for a new album in 2017!



-L.R.

https://misschainandthebrokenheels.bandcamp.com/album/uh-uh-standing-the-night-7
https://www.facebook.com/misschainandthebrokenheels 

The Dawn

 So back in December, I promised that early 2013 would bring a great new album from Miss Chain & the Broken Heels. And here it is! You had to know I wasn't going to steer you wrong! Given that this is already the third time I've written about this band for F & L, it's no secret that I'm a huge fan. So are at least eight of my Facebook friends. 2010's On a Bittersweet Ride is one of my favorite albums of the last several years, and these esteemed Italians were not going to have an easy time topping it. But The Dawn, out now on the illustrious Bachelor Records, demonstrates that Miss Chain and company were completely up to the task. It's by far the band's best record yet. And perhaps more gratifyingly, it proves that "serious" music can still be great fun to listen to. 

As always, Astrid "Miss Chain" Dante shines on the strength of her lovely voice and amazing songs (co-written with guitarist Disaster Silva). The band's repertoire has expanded dramatically, but no one will deny that they've got the talent to tackle any style of music they want. Broadly speaking, this record is every bit as "pop" as previous efforts. It's just that the band has stretched beyond its garage/power pop roots and found a sound that's all its own - a surprisingly contemporary melding of Beatlesque melodies, '60s French-pop radiance, old style country/western twang, fluid classic alt-rock guitars, and dreamy psychedelic soundscapes. Conceptually, this is an album about a girl becoming a woman. The lyrics are full of introspection on all facets of this coming-of-age experience. Echoing real life, the album is neither "dark" nor "bright" but rather quite a bit of both. Recorded over a two-week period at T.U.P. Studio in Brescia with producer Pierluigi Ballarin, The Dawn is sophisticated and meticulously crafted - yet thoroughly enjoyable to the very end.

While Miss Chain & the Broken Heels started out as kind of a solo project, they've become a band in the truest sense. Who doesn't love the bang-on rhythm section of the Barcella brothers (also of Nikki Corvette & The Romeos)? And with his brilliant work on lead guitar, Disaster Silva has become a true co-star of this group. I can't help hearing a Chrissie Hynde/James Honeyman-Scott type chemistry between lead singer and guitarist. And some of the songs, like "There's A Ghost" and "Don't Look Back", actually remind me a little of early Pretenders. Now in her later 20s, Miss Chain does sport a noticeably "matured" voice - which really enhances the emotional power of a lot of these songs. Tracks like the Western-styled "Calcutta" have a haunting vibe to them, while the spooky "It's Gone" could almost pass for a Terrible Feelings song. In the completely opposite direction, "Let Us Shine" is pure simple beauty. Then there's the upbeat "Little Boy", which will please old fans and win over new ones. And like many of my favorite albums, The Dawn is bookended by its two finest songs - the punchy pop gem "The Dawn Is Me" and the powerfully reflective "Rainbow".

If you go back and listen to all of Miss Chain & the Broken Heels' previous recordings and then play The Dawn, you may be staggered by the progression. Is this really the same band that made "Common Shell"? But what I like best is that this kind of growth has been achieved without the band turning away from the things that made it so appealing in the first place. Miss Chain and Disaster Silva have by no means abandoned their pursuit of the perfect pop song, and their considerable talents have only grown stronger over the years. They manage to draw from the past yet still make music that sounds current and distinctly their own. The Dawn's warm production and '60s influenced melodies are throwbacks to so many beloved rock records of a bygone era. Yet it doesn't feel "retro" or "old-fashioned" in the least. This is very much a band for now - hitting its stride with confidence and breaking free of stylistic pigeonholes. I can't say I'm surprised that they made an album this good, but I sure am pleased!



-L.R.

http://www.facebook.com/misschainandthebrokenheels
http://www.rockit.it/misschainandthebrokenheels/album/the-dawn/21539
http://misschainandthebrokenheels.bandcamp.com/

More from Miss Chain!

How about a brand new Miss Chain & the Broken Heels single for an early Christmas present? Please and thank you! A teaser for an LP due out early next year, "Rainbow" is everything you'd expect and more from Astrid Dante and her exceptionally talented band-mates. It's out now on the one-and-only Bachelor Records. As I'd hoped, it continues the melodious pop bliss of 2010's wonderful On A Bittersweet Ride. And if these two tracks are any indication of what's to come, the new album will be the band's best yet!

Miss Chain & the Broken Heels have pulled off quite a tricky feat - they've managed to "mature" as a band without sacrificing any of the qualities that made them great in the first place. While so many power pop-ish bands wear their influences on their sleeves, Miss Chain & the Broken Heels have arrived at that place where they only sound like themselves. "Rainbow" is a twangy pop song with a bouncing beat and extraordinary guitar work. Miss Chain has never sounded better, and the melodies pour forth in sweet abundance. You can still hear hints of garage and '60s pop, but all in all there's a timeless singer/songwriter vibe at play. I like how the lyrics tell a story - and that they're delivered with such passion.

On the flip, "Searchers" is a little more of a straight forward power pop song. It's catchy and upbeat. I love the harmonies, and there's a perfect little hook that'll get you every time. The song is a great mix of the old Miss Chain and the new Miss Chain - reminding us that the difference between the two is more stylistic than qualitative. For the lack of a better term, the band's newer stuff is clearly more "sophisticated" than their early power pop by-the-book singles. But even with an amazing-sounding analog recording and a musically-accomplished band, the real goodness remains in the melodies and the hooks. This is a band that continues to pursue the perfect pop song. Miss Chain is one of my very favorite vocalists, and she and her songwriting partner Disaster Silva have again delivered beautiful and infectious material. Once "Rainbow" gets stuck in your head, you're going to want it to stay there for a very long time. Good times! I wholeheartedly recommend this band to anyone who loves great music.



-L.R. 

http://www.facebook.com/misschainandthebrokenheels
http://misschainandthebrokenheels.bandcamp.com/album/rainbow-7-2

Miss Chain & The Broken Heels? Yes, please!

Italy’s Miss Chain & The Broken Heels were another band that was coming onto the scene just as I was getting out. I remember them for their throwback power pop sound a la Nikki and the Corvettes and The Shivvers. Now Wave Magazine was defunct before they got a proper record out, so I don’t believe I ever reviewed their music. But I was a fan. I think they were Myspace friends of mine. That tells you how long ago it was. Does anyone still have Myspace friends?  

Anyway, I liked Miss Chain & The Broken Heels as power pop up-and-comers. But they’ve come a long way over the years, and I like ‘em even better now. You can still hear a touch of a classic ‘70s power pop influence in their sound, but it’s mixed in with all kinds of other good stuff like ‘60s girl group pop, ‘60s ‘beat and garage, French pop, soul-pop, paisley pop, and ‘80s twee. Lead singer Astrid “Miss Chain” Dante has really come into her own as an artist, and debut album On a Bittersweet Ride is an aptly named delight. It’s got enough punch and pep to keep the fan base satisfied, but all in all this is a record that sounds like nothing else out there. Miss Chain has a lovely voice (imagine an Italian Frida Lyngstad), and she imbues these 12 songs with a captivating array of emotions. By turns heartbroken, gloomy, happy, despairing, and lovestruck, the many moods of Miss Chain give a unique tone to lively pop songs, sunny garage jams, and pretty ballads. In the manner of some of the great girl group vocalists, Miss Chain can lift your spirits with an upbeat song and absolutely break your heart with a sad one. But even with so much ‘60s flavor to it, On a Bittersweet Ride comes off very contemporary. You can hear all the nods to the sounds of yesteryear, but this is truly a band and an album for today. It’s not about who Miss Chain & Broken Heels sound like, because they sound like themselves. Thanks to distinctive, endearing vocals; phenomenal guitar work from Disaster Silva; and flat-out great songs like “Flamingo” and “Rollercoaster”, this has the makings of an album that will itself be imitated in the very near future. And if I’m tardy in just now touting a recording that was released five months ago, I’ll say in my defense that this is the perfect “summertime album”. Buy it, get in the car, turn it up, drive, and enjoy life. This is as pop as pop gets.

- L.R.

http://www.myspace.com/misschainandthebrokenheels