Falling into the chillwave category—a genre almost jokingly coined by Carles, the primary voice of Hipster Runoff, a blog that simultaneously pokes fun at and promotes hipster trends—is easy for an electronic-based band to do. Combine a sluggishly danceable tempo, dreamy melodies and subtly unconventional electronic accents, and there you have it: chillwave.
Small Black fits that of-the-moment mold, with airy, soothing vocals and slow synth beats that intertwine with the otherwise scattered electronic sounds in the background. And by not getting too sticky with the hooks (see Neon Indian) but occasionally throwing in discernable lyrics, the Brooklyn band’s debut LP, New Chain, is a chillwave goldmine.
Like its genre counterparts (Washed Out, Toro Y Moi), Small Black began as a bedroom recording project, a near required step for any chillwave act. Predictably, the album offers a sleepy brand of midtempo tunes (“Light Curse,” “Panthers”), plus subtly thumping jams like “Camouflage,” “Crips 100s” and “Hydra.” But despite its genre-perpetuating, path-following nature, Small Black’s New Chain is an irresistibly engaging and enjoyable addition to the constantly growing collection of laid-back, electronic indie.
Small Black plays the Drunken Unicorn (736 Ponce de Leon Ave.) on Tuesday, Oct. 26, at 9 p.m. Supporting acts include Class Actress and Living Rooms. The show is 18-and-up.
