at a glance...

Hometown: Portland, OR / Chicago, IL
Formed: 1991

Personnel:
Rebecca Gates -vocals, guitar, piano, organ, mellotron, keyboards, bass
(she's supported by a variety of musicians from track to track)

Bands in the family :
Built To Spill, Dharma Bums

In sound and subject, this is a record about coming to terms with things. It's the first Spinanes record without drummer Scott Plouf, whose full-on attack ensured that the group's early duo performances never sounded under-dressed. Instead of replacing him Rebecca Gates has opted for a shifting cast of players that includes her engineers and fellow Oregonian Joanna Bohme, who splits guitar and keyboard duties with Gates on two thirds of the album.

Two tracks done with John McEntire echo the layered, easy-grooving sound that he defined on the Sea And Cake's The Fawn (that band's Sam Prekop duets with Gates on the sorrowfully loping "Reach V. Speed"). The ones recorded at Easley Recording achieve a temporally indeterminate r&b sound that reminds me of an old Elvis Costello and the Attractions record. Elsewhere Gates explores quietly epic balladry and closes the record with a jazzy tune that's acrid with smoky regret.

Topically, she deals with the trials of romance in a social milieu that's old enough to have maxed out the credit cards it used to buy all those K and Ajax singles a few years ago. In this respect Arches and Aisles could be seen as an update of Liz Phair's Exile In Guyville told by a less narcissistic, more self-aware narrator.

If you like The Spinanes, check out:
Liz Phair Exile In Guyville
Lois Maffeo & Brendan Canty The Union Themes
Elvis Costello and the Attractions Trust
Lois Butterfly Kiss

psst...you might wanna check out our indie rock abode for more features on (guess what) indie rock bands.

-- Bill Meyer