"holding on to you / is a game I always lose..."
Once again Los Angeles based Child Seat summons iconic 80's constructs and fuels them with Madeleine Mathews' (MAWD) powerhouse vocals and Josiah Mazzaschi's (Light FM, Bizou) musical universe building on the burning nu-disco fire of a track "Fool For Love" that expertly blends sonic tinges of late 70's proto punk, 80's new wave dance and post punk, 90's East Coast funk rock fusions and more. This track, from the duo's sophomore album "Dancing at The Disco" (dropping June 21st, 2024) for an old music dog like me, has iconic memories like Yazoo (circa 1982 "Don't Go") with the full throttle vocals of Alison Moyet and other diverse touchstones like Bronkski Beat, The Human League, Melody's Echo Chamber, MGMT, Grouplove, Cocteau Twins and while Mazzaschi and Mathews certainly have their own inspirations, that wide array of sonic seeds just come to my mind. That being said as Child Seat, M and M's distillation is uniquely theirs alone.
"Fool For Love" is such a complex blend that feels partially like a vintage dark and slightly twisted video game with Kraftwerkian pre-techno sounds. I love the Horror pop darkness (like a John Carpenter soundtrack), love the beat switch ups, the dense dirty synth downbeat, slap effects, and of course, Madeleine Mathews' incredible vocals. She has the ability to not only sound exquisitely cool but she also saturates that cool with emotional blood, sweat and tears. Kudos as well toAllison Loewe's backing vox that sound particularly art punk wicked in a kind of Siouxsie Sioux way. Love it.
Enjoy the "Fool For Love" Official Video filmed by Ben Thomas, edited by Madeleine Mathews with makeup by Mary Kula.
-Robb Donker Curtius
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2glGedITk1hxwHS228RVnw
https://www.instagram.com/childseatmusic/
https://www.facebook.com/childseatofficial
Child Seat, the powerhouse duo formed in 2021 by Madeleine Mathews (MAWD) and Josiah Mazzaschi (Light FM, Bizou), turns pandemic setbacks into indie rock gold. With the entirety of their debut album written remotely during the pandemic, Mathews’ powerful rock vocals, reminiscent of artists like Brittany Howard/Karen O., creates a unique juxtaposition over Mazzaschi's 80's synth-heavy instrumentals and blended with MGMT/Beach House/Arctic Monkeys vibes.
Child Seat encompasses both Mathews and Mazzaschi’s strengths. Mazzaschi has over 20+ years of success recording and producing artists like The Jesus and the Mary Chain, Jeff Schroeder of the Smashing Pumpkins, Deap Vally, Built to Spill, Rilo Kiley and more, as well as writing/performing for his own projects; Light FM, Motorhome, and Bizou. Mathews, who has fronted and written for numerous bands as well has won songwriting competitions, is defined by her unique vocal styling and powerful lyricism.
Child Seat, indie rock, alt rock, new wave tones, 90's post punk atmospheres, "Fool For Love" (Official Video), sophomore album "Dancing at The Disco", Madeleine Mathews (MAWD), Josiah Mazzaschi,
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