Brooklyn?s SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS (formed by SECRET MACHINES guitarist Ben Curtis) sweeping ethereal pop debut Alpinisms reveals a vast array of influences and a sophisticated approach to arrangement, resulting in a collection of songs that are effortlessly cohesive and insidiously catchy. Like many bands before them, SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS were born as the result of a late-night revelation. Benjamin Curtis connected with identical twin vocalists Alejandra and Claudia Deheza whilst their bands SECRET MACHINES and ON-AIR LIBRARY! were on tour together in 2004. Watching PBS at 3am, Alejandra caught a show about the "School of Seven Bells?: a mythical South American pickpocket academy that may or may not have existed in the "80s. The idea of seven minds working as one appealed to her, as did the phrase?s cryptic musicality, and a creative spark ignited. School of Seven Bells? music is full of tensions; Curtis? gentle guitars wrap around jagged beats, silky vocals hide behind grumpy alien synthesizers. Elements of dream-pop, Afrobeat, IDM, and 4AD?s gauzier moments provide a constantly shifting frame for Dehezas? lyrics. These three seasoned musicians have taken up full-time residence in a dizzying fantasy world; they move freely within the realm of pickpockets and dreamers, composing a soundtrack according to their own odd, beautiful logic.

Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Iamundernodisguise
2. Face To Face On High Places
3. Half Asleep
4. Wired For Light
5. For Kalaja Mari
6. White Elephant Coat
7. Connjur
8. Sempiternal / Amaranth
9. Chain
10. Prince Of Peace
11. My Cabal