Reckless Records review of Smallwire début

Smallwire's début album Songs for Sleeping In, issued by the Japan-based Moor Works label, is now available at Chicago's Reckless Records. To hear some of the songs that feature on this album, won't you have a listen at Smallwire's Web site and Myspace page?

Here is the Reckless Records review of Songs for Sleeping In, reproduced in its entirety:

SMALLWIRE
SONGS FOR SLEEPING IN (JAPANESE IMPORT)
MOORWORKS
Chicago's SMALLWIRE caught our attention a few years back with their self-released e.p. "Death of a Snowflake." Since then, they've been slowly crafting this very strong debut album. The most striking quality of the group is the rich & ethereal vocal harmonies that recall bands such as LUSH & STEREOLAB. The arrangements are sparse & restrained with the rhythm section sometimes sitting out almost entire songs. There's a maturity to the songwriting here that bands often don't hit upon until their third or fourth release. Along with the 1900s & SCOTLAND YARD GOSPEL CHOIR, SMALLWIRE are paving the way for a new wave of orchestral pop groups in Chicago. If you like BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE, GALAXIE 500, Slumberland bands etc... then this is an album you really need to hear.

Available at: All Stores
New CD $14.99

Illinois Entertainer on Smallwire's album Songs for Sleeping In

On April 30, 2008, the Illinois Entertainer published the following review of Songs for Sleeping In, the début album of Chicago band Smallwire. Entertainer reviewer Andy Argyrakis lavishes praise upon the fruits of Smallwire's labors.

Here's the review:

After opening for Tapes 'N Tapes, Chin Up Chin Up, and Magnolia Electric Co. (to name a few), melodic indie poppers Smallwire turned in the somber though sophisticated Songs For Sleeping In. Frontwoman Kristin Barendregt evokes Feist throughout the peppier premises of "Is It What You Thought?" and "Aftercast," while the dreamy backdrops of "Blur The Lines" and "Passing Plane" conjure production images of Brian Eno. (www.myspace.com/smallwire)

– Andy Argyrakis

Flavorpill Chicago on Smallwire

In early February 2008, the Web site Flavorpill Chicago published the following piece recommending a performance by the Chicago band Smallwire:

With all the sharp-eyed journos covering Chicago's variegated music scene, it's astonishing that local indie-pop purveyors Smallwire have yet to garner the fawning blog posts and laudatory column inches they so richly deserve. In many ways, though, the outfit's unsung bedroom pop — teeming with delicate keyboard tinkles, pitch-perfect harmonies, and shimmering guitar hooks — is even sweeter to hear when you know no one else is listening. Tonight, the lithe and lovely five-piece (with additional friends on viola and cello) sets up shop at the MCA's Magical Musical Showcase to perform songs off its full-length debut, the swoon-worthy Songs for Sleeping In.

- Suzanne Niemoth

Smallwire in The Chicago Sun-Times

The February 1, 2008 edition of The Chicago Sun-Times contained the following article on the Chicago band Smallwire:

Smallwire steps into MCA music spotlight
February 1, 2008

BY ALLISON AUGUSTYN

Seeing a band play an art museum might not be your first plan on a Tuesday night. But the Museum of Contemporary Art, local music venue Schubas and Chicago band Smallwire are hoping they can convince you otherwise.

The first Tuesday of every month, the MCA hosts the "Magical Musical Showcase," a performance series highlighting local bands. A nice twist on the series is that the MCA asks Chicago venues to choose which bands will play, leaving the decisions to people who know the music well.

The Feb. 5 choice fell to the popular North Side club Schubas, which is known for putting eclectic bands on-stage, so it's no surprise it would promote a band like Smallwire.

Smallwire formed in 2005, but their first CD, "Songs for Sleeping In," will be released this April on the Japanese label Moorworks. It makes sense that it would take time for the band to craft an album. Smallwire's sound draws from art-pop sensibilities, is intricate, often delicate, layered and constantly moving in different musical directions. The songs require a few listens to dig through everything going on.

"The band is more an ensemble than the traditional singer with backup and a rhythm section," said bassist/vocalist Tom Schreiner. "We think of all of the instruments and voices as pretty much equally important, write parts that interact in ways that seem to us to be both interesting and cohesive, and try to keep the sound balanced."

To complement the ensemble, Smallwire's performance will feature additional musicians on viola and cello. The band has been working on new music for the event.
"The MCA series provides us with an environment in which to work with different textures and harmonies," Schreiner said.

So with support from a known venue like Schubas and a performance stage in a place dedicated to art, Smallwire gets a chance to appeal to an audience that differs from the traditional club crowd but may be no less involved or listening. It's an intriguing combination of concepts.

Allison Augustyn is a local free-lance writer.

Newcity Chicago on Smallwire

The following recommendation and miniature album review was published by the weekly publication Newcity Chicago on January 29, 2008. It listed Smallwire's Museum of Contemporary Art performance its #1 out of five picks for the first week of February, 2008.

Tip of the Week
Smallwire
Tom Lynch

Chicago minimalist crew Smallwire's pretty, obviously titled "Songs for Sleeping In" on Moorworks is daring in its restraint and, by its very nature, humble in its presentation. The vocals from Kristin Barendregt and Kristina Dutton reach ethereal marks only found in the best of gazers and, backed by clean, quiet guitars and effortless piano and string pieces, the harmonies speak in waves. The nearly perfect arrangements are never obtrusive on the songs' melodies—and the brief and emotional string finale to "Blur the Lines" might just be the best damn thing on the album. It sounds like a beautiful drowning. The band plays as part of Schubas's Magical Musical Showcase Series at the MCA, so the show's early in the evening. Don't miss it.

Smallwire plays February 5 at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 East Chicago, (312)280-2660, at 6:30pm.

(2008-01-29)