According to the band’s bandcamp bio, Connecticut’s Chillingsworth brings “excitement and fun energy to every show they play” and from the first chord of their EP, Sir Roger, one can easily hear why that very may well be the case. The EP is full of energetic drumbeats and catchy, upbeat melodies. Traces of jazz and ska are woven throughout each track, probably most obviously heard in the final track, Stay Fly. The vocals remind me of Matt Skiba or possibly Geoff Farina, singer of Karate.
I found myself listening to the opening track, Cloud, and feeling an overwhelming urge to get up and dance. The use of bells is very prominent throughout the track making them a nice addition to the song, adding a poppy layer to their jazz-infused sound. There are moments on the track where one can hear Vampire Weekend peeking through the melodies. This leads me to believe that Chillingsworth has a solid grasp on how to make a good pop song.
Overall, I was very pleased with this release. I think the band has a great jazz-pop sound, which can most certainly appeal to a wide audience. I am interested to see what they come up with next and would definitely recommend checking these guys out next time they come around your hometown.
–Daniel McMahon