Loud Forest

Opposites attract on Loud Forest‘s debut track, “Drag Me / Don’t Drag Me.” The husband-wife duo of Bernard and Rachel Chadwick combine different songwriting personalities — Bernard being the “direct and minimal” one while Rachel follows an “abstract and experimental” approach — to create some toe-tapping pop-rock. The result is delightfully nostalgic, not too unlike early Grouplove. Listen below. - All Things Go Music

Three weeks ago, we were introduced to married duo Rachel and Bernard Chadwick, who are better known as Loud Forest. At the time, they had released their debut single, “Drag Me/Don’t Drag Me”, a catchy art-pop song that merged together pop, soul, and indie rock. The song gave the sense that the Chadwicks shared a common, musical foundation from which to build upon, namely experimental pop music.

Well, this first impression couldn’t be further from the truth, as the two have different – and some would say polarizing – musical tastes. Rachel leans towards music that is abstract and experimental, like an artist who dabbles in broad concepts and vivid aesthetics yet somehow ties every idea together into one stunning piece of work. Bernard, meanwhile, is linear in his approach, taking a direct and minimal approach like an engineer or architect tasked with building a bridge to connect the two shores. A uniter you could call him.

Despite their difference approaches, they make it work. Like Paula Abdul once said, opposites attract – or in this case, they fall in love and utilize their different skills to create music that is clever, innovative, and ear-popping delightful. It’s not cookie-cutter music that they’re creating, but one that follows in paths set by great innovators like Deerhoof, Deerhunter, The Dirty Projectors, and St. Vincent.

Today, Loud Forest are sharing their latest single, “Under Your Spell”, which we have the immense honor of premiering today. The new single reveals the brilliance behind the two as well as how they’ve taken their distinct approaches and made the complementary to the other’s interests. The song is minimalist and subtle, yet it feels full and expansive. And like “Drag Me/Don’t Drag Me”, the two have masterfully melded together various genres to create a unique art-pop tune – merging folk and pop melodies, adopting the dual-harmony approach of modern-day indie-folk, and the stuttering rhythms and loops heard on the experimental pop of tUnE-yArDs. The song is a grower and with each listen you’ll soon fall under Loud Forest’s spell, which is a dazzling and even quirky reinterpretation of today’s indie music.

The Chadwicks are in the midst of completing their self-titled, debut album, which is expected May 27th. In the meantime, follow Loud Forest at: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter - The Revue Music Blog

Los Angeles indie-rock duo Loud Forest play to each other’s strengths, and this should come as no surprise; the band’s members, Rachel and Bernard Chadwick, have been composing music together for a decade. Despite this being their newest project, Loud Forest sounds remarkably self-assured and fresh. On “Drag Me/Don’t Drag”, Bernard takes the lead while Rachel harmonizes with him over a bright jangly guitar and rolling drums. The track meshes the male and female vocals in a style that recalls Grouplove, except Loud Forest eschew pop conventions for guitar solos and a massive sound that grows larger as the track progresses. Additionally, the charismatic guitar-and-vocal approach is reminiscent of groups like Deerhunter, Love Is All, and The Pixies – and very fondly so. - Obscure Sound Music Blog

The first few times I listened to this song, I struggled to put my finger on exactly who they reminded me of. I didn't want to say Mumford & Sons, because that seemed to obvious...

Finally, it dawned on me. This has the same tempo and similar singing to one of my favorites: The Dodos. Perhaps there's a bit of Lumineers mixed in, as well?

Loud Forest are LA-based duo Rachel and Bernard Chadwick. They're gearing up to release a new self-titled album on May 27th. - Indie Shuffle

Over the past three months, we have become enamored with the music of Rachel and Bernard Chadwick. Through their project Loud Forest, the wife-and-husband duo are – to borrow a phrase from Forest Gump – like a box of chocolates, where you never know what you are going to get. Despite their varied sound, the Chadwicks dazzled us with their first two songs – the alt-pop tune “Drag Me/Don’t Drag Me” and the quirky and cool “Under Your Spell”, which we had the pleasure of premiering last month.

At the time we shared “Under Your Spell”, we learned that the couple have completely different musical tastes and styles. As we wrote in May, Rachel is abstract and experimental, an artist who dabbles in broad concepts and vivid aesthetics yet ties everything together into one stunning piece of work. She is like Picasso. Bernard, meanwhile, is linear in his approach, taking a direct and minimal approach like an engineer or architect tasked with building a bridge to connect the two shores. A uniter you could call him, like Joseph Strauss, one of the architects of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Despite their varied interests and approaches, the two have been writing music together for over ten years. While countless number of paper balls were surely thrown at one other during that time, the two have endeavored on their most ambitious album to date – the release of their self-titled, debut album, which we are pleased to present today.

While Loud Forest took two years to write, record, and produce, it was a decade-long project. Like any relationship, the time was spent understanding the other person’s mannerisms and nuances, figuring out when to give and when to take, and finding that perfect harmony. Despite the amount of time they have been together, it was not their common love for music that spurred the Chadwicks to finally pursue recording their debut album. Instead, the stimulus came from a surprising source – or should I say stimuli and sources. It was not until the births of their two daughters that they decided to get serious about releasing Loud Forest. It is, as such, not so much a personal achievement but a gift to their girls – and what a wonderful present it is.

“Drag Me/Don’t Drag Me” and “Under Your Spell” are the two tracks that anchor the album with their playful alt-pop approach, but it is the stunning “If Words Had Power” that captures the love put into the record. As you listen closely to the lyrics, the song is a lullaby for one’s children, but it is also an expression of love to someone dear. The whispery melody provides a bedroom intimacy to the song, where the most fleeting moments of time are also the most endearing.

The album is filled with such surprising moments. “True Love/True Love” is a gritty rocker that mirrors some of U2’s best, mid-career work. “Save Your Change” is Unknown Mortal Orchestra-esque with its unconventional arrangements and art-rock undertones. “I’m Not Your Friend/I’m Not Your Enemy” sees Loud Forest channel Tegan and Sara on this pop-infused number.

The most surprising element of the entire album, though, is the presence of Americana, alt-country, and indie-folk. “Loneliness is Making Us Wild” resonates the upbeat style of The Heart and The Heart while the calm and intimate “There You Are” has a The Lumineers quality. “Love You Like a Saint” jams with the energy of Son Volt with the guitar-driven climax to match.

The album’s bookends encapsulate the varied sounds and genres that are heard throughout the album. The opening track, “Set You Free”, is a beautiful, melodic folk-pop tune that is Arcade Fire meets The Decemberists (might be the humming of the accordion in the background combined with the quiet euphoria of the song). The closer, “Just Go To The Woods”, marries the southern rock of The Black Crowes and the alt-country of Ryan Adams and Whiskeytown.

Like Rachel and Bernard Chadwick, Loud Forest is expansive and eclectic, yet in their fashion they have been able to find that perfect harmony in the differences. It did take them a decade to make the record, let us hope it does not take nearly as long for album number two. By then, their daughters will give them other reasons to be inspired.

Loud Forest is officially out tomorrow (Friday, May 27th). Pre-order it on iTunes and pick up some additional merchandise on their Bandcamp page. - The Revue Music Blog