Pit er Pat Issue #29

Pyramids (Thrill Jockey)

By Katerina Herodotou
Published: September 1st, 2006 | 12:00am

Pit er Pat are minimal. In fact, they barely have any rock to put into the post-rock label attached to the band. Pyramids, the new record from this Chicago-based trio, is an experiment in unfussiness that is characterized by the simplicity of muffled drumming, atmospheric samples, and a bass player who doesn’t have a guitarist to support him.

So what do you hear on Pyramids? Gurgling machines, suppressed barcode scanners, and soft vocals bordering on lazy whispers. There are bits of ancient-sounding pianos matched with girly vocals. The record opens with the gentle lullaby of "Brain Monster," but as the tracks play on, the loveliness of minimalism fades away to a craving for action. When singer Fay Davis-Jeffers is joined by Rob Doran at the mic, her childlike femininity glaringly shows through the artsy demeanor of the record. This is perfect background music for brunch; if your brunch is going to be forgettable, that is.

For a group of artists that dabbles in music as well as visual arts, Pyramids markedly sounds like a side project. It lacks invention and curiosity and is a decidedly boring record. Far from attention grabbing, the music is understated and, in most instances, weak. "Solstice" seriously channels Suzanne Vega in a pleasant way, but "Baby's First” seizes upon a repetition that is just plain annoying.

Overall, the potential of these three artists is lost in a lackluster and monotonous release. Pit Er Pat rely on the boundaries of minimalism, instead of exploring the opportunities within the genre.