Cheer- Accident is a Chicago band that has been around for over 25 years and this CD is their 16th release. This is the only CD of the band that I have listened to and I enjoyed it very much. Fear Draws Misfortune is their second release on the Cuneiform label and fits well with the Cuneiform catalogue. The band consists of three main members, Thymme Jones (drums, keyboards, trumpet, vocals), Jeff Libersher (guitar, bass, trumpet, vocals) and Alex Perkolup (bass, guitar). The band is assisted by 15 musicians on this release with vocals, tuba, clarinet, trumpet, flute, trombone, violin, cello and tenor, alto and baritone sax. I would categorize their music as combination of art rock, RIO, and Avant-garde rock. Listening to the CD I hear elements of Frank Zappa, Art Bears, Magma, 5uu's, Univers Zero Thinking Plague, Bill Frisell and King Crimson. The CD contains 9 songs in a total time of just over 41 minutes.
The album starts off with the song "Sun Dies", a mid tempo song that has combines an odd timed driving rhythm section, many dissonant chords, a combination of Magma and Art Bears vocals and horns. These elements are combined in such a way to feel like waves coming ashore. Slowly building up to crest breaking and than softly reaching the beach. The next song is a short dense angular instrumental. The third piece is another short instrumental, this time an up-tempo beat with main themes played by the guitar and horns.
"Blue Cheadle" is the forth song and starts of with an odd timed simple groove that slowly builds until the vocals come in half way through the song. The vocals are in the Magma style. These are than combined with the beginning groove at a higher tempo and add in some violin and everything starts to get a bit tense. This is then resolved by just the violin playing out the last part of the song, a nice conclusion to the overall piece. "Disenchantment" is up next and reminds me of early 90's Bill Frisell songs like "Yuba City" and "Child at Heart". The sixth track is dense and angular with some interesting vocals added to fill things out. "According to the Spiral" is the next song and is a little more basic than the previous numbers. The song is led by strong male vocals, piano, flute and an odd timed rhythm section. The second to last song is a very busy song with many changes and some subtle vocals. Closer "Your Weak Heart" is also the longest song at a time of 9:41. The song starts and finishes with a beautiful ballad of piano and male vocals. The mid section sound like 70's style Italian progressive rock, with keyboards playing a more classical style and the addition of horns. A very nice way to end the CD.
Fear Draws Misfortune is a very strong CD that could have easily been a miss. When a band creates an album with so many different elements in a non-traditional way it must take a lot thought to make it sound interesting and pleasing at the same time and Cheer- Accident have succeeded. If you would like to expand your musical mind please have a listen to Fear Draws Misfortune.
Track listing
- Sun Dies
- Mescalito
- And Then You Haven't Left Yet
- Blue Cheadle
- Disenchantment
- The Carnal, Garish City
- According to the Spiral
- Humanizing the Distance
- Your Weak Heart
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