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CMJ HIGHLIGHT: Danish Band "Choir Of Young Believers"
- Author: Faith-Ann Young
- Posted on: Monday October 26, 2009 at 2:00 PM
- Filed under: exclusive, choir of young believers, music, denmark, thom yorke, fleetfoxes, sigur ros
CMJ HIGHLIGHT: Danish Band "Choir Of Young Believers"
Though the name may sound a bit daunting, we assure you Choir of Young Believers is not a Christian rock band. It is instead a bohemian orchestral band hailing from Denmark, the brainchild of the Greek-Indonesian-Dane Jannis Noya Makrigiannis, who has brooding eyes and a mythically proud beard like that of a wind-charred, Alaskan fisherman.
Makrigiannis' creations aren't shy but rather bravely relevatory; choir of Young Believers' music is like a page ripped from a tear-soaked diary, translated by a home-sick symphony. Meanwhile, their CD This is For The White In Your Eyes meanders along the terrain of atmospheric chamber pop - winking at Thom Yorke's introspective lyrics, tiptoing through Sigur Ros' scintillating builds, and nestling alongside Fleet Foxes orchestral cascades.
Choir of Young Believers @ Pianos October 22nd 2009
As it turns out, the band's live set can transition from man-and-guitar to band-plus-30-person-symphony - depending on the instance, the only constant variable being Makrigiannis. You'd figure that a band with so many moving parts would have trouble putting together a cohesive, live set. Instead, their late night set at Pianos - in which a group of 5 packed close onto the small, dlim-lit stage - was like thunder meets lightening: sounds ebbed and crescendoed, as catchy pop ballads like "Action/Reaction" (below) to drippingly melancholic "Hollow Talk" tickled our ear drums in the dark.
On a melancholy day, you will feel COYB's music in your bones. On a carefree day, “Action/Reaction” or "Next Summer" will accompany your day in the sun or dance in the dark.
How can you resist?
Action/Reaction:
As a Three Person Band:
Playing with a 30 ~ person symphony:
More Picts of Choir of Young Believers @ Pianos October 22nd 2009
Jannis Noya Makrigiannis (and mythic-sized beard) in front.
Photos & Review by Faith-Ann Young
NEXT CMJ POST: CMJ Kick-Off: Tiger City, The Postelles, Fanfarlo, Midnight Juggernauts
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COMMENTS
“sad songs... all my roboto files are on my labtop...the internet on my laptop is not working...dont know why ...i have to call my brother tomorrow...he is a tech :)”
