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School of Seven Bells @ (le) poisson rouge, NYC -pics, setlist

words & photos by Natasha Ryan

School of Seven Bells

Late Friday night (1/16) Brooklyn trio School of Seven Bells closed the Self-Titled Magazine “Oscillations” party at the Greenwich Village venue (le) poisson rouge. The dream-pop outfit, who have recently toured with acts such as M83 and Prefuse 73, opened with the airy “Wired for Light”, layered with downtempo ambient beats and textured kraut synths feeding off Benjamin Curtis‘s (ex-Secret Machines) distorted riffs. “Iamundernodiguise” boasted the hypnotic harmonies of the Deheza sisters, with vocal interplay hinting of Middle Eastern melodies over heavy tribal drum tracks. Dramatic lighting and thick smoke enveloped the stage making it easy to feel slightly disoriented in the otherworldly soundscapes. The highlight appeared to be the poppier “Half Asleep” as the entire front row could be seen dancing and singing along. Towards the the end of the eight-song set the vocals felt lost in the droning guitars and the swelling noise became a woozy, visceral experience. The set ended with the stage completely immersed in smoke, a fitting visual for the euphoric resolution.

More pictures and the setlist below…

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

setlist
1. Wired for Light
2. Iamundernodisguise
3. Chain
4. Connjur
5. White Elephant Coat
6. Half Asleep
7. My Cabal
8. Sempiternal/Amaranth