Bristol-based alternative rock sensation Chandra has released a new EP today. “Lifted” is their latest piece of work, heavily promoted with “Lighters To The Sky,” “Pretty,” “Smile (No Fox Gibbon),” “I’ll Be There,” and “Lifted,” five excellent compositions that will immediately introduce to the luxurious sound of this outstanding band. For those who somehow missed our previous writings about these experienced musicians, Chandra combines the fundamentals of alternative rock with indie rock, pop rock, and pop punk. You may notice some other styles along the way that unquestionably enhance these songs to new heights, but the band uses them as more than necessary decorations while retaining the primary sonic direction. These experimentations with many complementary genres, superb songwriting, careful composing, clever arranging, and producing resulted in a collection of songs that will convince every listener to spin this material over again. It’s not only suitable for alternative rock fans but for everyone even remotely interested in wisely composed and flawlessly performed rock music.
This marvelous extended play commences with “Smile (No Fox Gibbon),” a perfect opening track that vividly showcases Chandra’s songwriting abilities. The song arrives perfectly structured, garnered with many intricate segments and excellent instrumentations that make this sonic journey even more pleasant to the ears. You’ll hear how much effort, heart, and soul these skilled musicians poured into calm, soothing, relaxing, ethereal verses where superb lyricism dominates and catchy, memorable, engaging choruses where the anthemic singalongs immediately grab your attention and keep you mesmerized even after the song ends. “Pretty” demonstrates Chandra’s ability to write songs where each vocal, sonic, and rhythmic maneuver plays a significant role in shaping such an ear-appealing ambiance. This composition has a fascinating arrangement, vividly hearable from scratch to finish. From gradually shaping the ambiance with soothing chord progressions, ska chops, and marvelous leads, themes, melodies, and harmonies to intricate low-ends and energetic, well-accentuated drumming, “Pretty” shines as a standout of material. Chandra Naiir’s outstanding vocal range seamlessly balances low, mid, and high notes, commanding attention and guiding listeners through the vast universe based upon fascinating orchestrations. It’s a perfect pop-rock track that will appeal to your ears no matter which music genre you prefer.
“I’ll Be There” embraces everything we love about alternative, pop-punk, and hard rock. Once again, Chandra showcases a knack for composing catchy and memorable choruses where his magnificent vocal performance flawlessly matches the incredible guitar works. From perfect vocal harmonies, tight guitar works, and beautiful melodies to the rhythm section that serves as the backbone of the entire song, “I’ll Be There” is another standout track that has all the qualities of a potential radio hit. The chorus is so hypnotic and addictive that you’ll immediately put this song on your alternative/indie rock playlist. This style suits him and his band well, as each member feels comfortable playing slightly heavier music. With “Lifted,” the band gradually compiles layers of instrumentations until reaching a cathartic ambiance with otherwordly, anthemic, echoic, choruses. The atmosphere is almost divine, with layers of perfectly sung vocals creating an irresistible soundscape that always defines Chandra’s sound. Besides the vocals, the band incorporated carefully prepared, semi-distorted chord progressions and riffs, equally complex basslines that bind everything together, and many tastefully arranged beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics. The additional themes, melodies, and harmonies delivered on guitars spice things up and propel this song to new heights. It’s a perfect title track and a true representative of Chandra’s sound.
“Lighters To The Sky” channels some mid to late-nineties alternative, indie, and pop-punk vibes, garnered with modern production, emphasizing every instrument equally. Chandra’s sincere, confident, emotive, and powerful vocal performance shines here, as his impressive range decorates each note masterfully. You’ll especially notice these vocal maneuvers during the soothing verses, where all the instrumentations are calm, moderate, and perfectly accentuated to the point that Chandra’s voice dominates the most. As usual, the instrumentations presented at “Lighters To The Sky” are nearly mindblowing. By now, you’ll realize these folks are not joking around with their music. Each chord progression and riff is delivered with precision and finesse while the basslines rumble beneath all the guitar layers, offering more than necessary heaviness, clarity, and depth. The skillful drummer emphasizes each instrumentation with delicate accentuations and rhythmic sequences. “Overload” serves as a perfect closure of such an incredible EP release. In the beginning, you’ll think it’s a stripped-down acoustic song, but suddenly, you’ll realize this song also carries layers of instrumentation, expertly blended with guitars. The marvelous chord progression delivered on acoustic guitars and other intricate instrumentations gradually builds ambiance until half-time beats kick in, offering more complexity and depth to the song. In the meantime, Chandra lends another dosage of beautiful vocal harmonies, bringing all the emotion with exceptional performance. It’s a beautiful ballad that will convince you to spin this material over again.
“Lifted” EP is an alternative rock masterpiece. It’ vividly showcases Chandra’s superior songwriting, composing, arranging, and producing abilities while the following band demonstrates experience, knowledge, and skill with each note and beat delivered from scratch to finish. Chandra poured heart and soul into this collection of songs and his effort is vividly hearable through his vocal delivery and marvelous musicianship. You should place this alternative rock gem on your radar immediately. “Lifted” EP is available on all streaming platforms. Don’t miss it!
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