Christiansen – Forensics Brothers And Sisters!
(Revelation)

You may not have heard of Christiansen, but you’ve probably heard of their predecessors, whose fingerprints have not been wiped entirely clean from these songs. Upon analyzing clues found at the scene of the crime, you will discover that the band is composed of former members from Slint, Endpoint, and Falling Forward… certainly no strangers to the world of indie rock.

Following up on their first two full length releases, they have signed on to Revelation Records and released this six song EP entitled Forensics Brothers And Sisters. It seems a fitting home for Christiansen, as their latest batch of songs are somewhat reminiscent of Revelation alumnis Quicksand and Sense Field, not to mention recent tourmates, Elliott. On the other hand, there are also traces of Fugazi somewhere in there, but hey– who doesn’t sound like Fugazi nowadays?

The Fugazi influence is most pronounced on the lead off track, “Jhazz Never Spelled So Good”, which features a driving bass line and interspersed guitar work. However, lead singer/guitarist Brandon Bondehagen’s strangely familiar voice prevents the comparison from being taken too far. Other notable songs include “Portable Museums”, with its harder edged sound and guitar breakdowns, and “Transistorized Landscapes”, which combines piano interludes with a Quicksand style chorus.

When you put it all under the microscope, the signs indicate that this release will be turning a lot of heads in Christiansen’s general direction. Pick it up and formulate your own analysis of the evidence today. — Sean