First, let me state the obvious – changes, while stressful and sometimes shitty, for the most part are cathartic. Geographic changes can strip away even the most stubborn of negative memories that seemingly suffocate someone’s surroundings. Personnel changes can breathe new life into everything from government to basketball teams. And band name changes, now for the second time this week, are proven to somehow bring about new directions for even the youngest of bands.
Case in point – The Color Exchange, or as they were known to us just about a year ago, Clockwork Kids. The archetype of how choosing to alter the trajectory of your band through nomenclature can be a very successful means in framing your narrative as a group of musicians.
As Clockwork Kids, we described their sound as neo-psychedelic-rock, which sounds amazing, but to be honest I have no idea what that shit means. And to make huge leaps like us bloggers sometimes do – their sound was more focused on the past than progressive. Not to say that’s a bad thing – many bands have pushed many boundaries while slightly twisting the knobs of musicians who came before them.
But now, as The Color Exchange is born, the cynosure is obviously forward looking. “Sparks” is powerful, polished and effing poppy (alliteration for the second time, y’all!). And most of all, it’s not music that is kiddish in the least. Directional – it ends in a very different place than it starts. Building, but not in a way that’s deliberate or contrived.
The epitome of all this “growth” language I’ve been slinging comes around the 3:12, when all available elements come together in a swirling anti-cacophonous mixture of…wonderfulness? I dunno – just check it out below, and bookmark their Bandcamp page so you can pick up their new LP CUBED when it’s out April 11th.
They also have one hell of an expedited East Coast North American romp planned for March, starting tonight in NYC. Go check ‘em out – dates are below the vid.
The Color Exchange East Coast Romp
Friday March 6th- New York City
Saturday March 7th- Montreal, QC @ Cabaret Playhouse
Monday, March 9th – Ottawa, ON @ Zaphod Beeblebrox
Tuesday, March 10th – Burlington, VT @ Nectar’s
Wednesday, March 11th – Boston, MA @ The Middle East
Thursday, March 12th – Philadelphia, PA @ Bourbon & Branch
Friday, March 13th – Washington, DC @ Tree House Lounge
Saturday, March 14th – Raleigh, NC @ Slims
Saturday, April 11th – Chapel Hill, NC – CUBED Album Release Show @ Local 506