Album Mini-review: Chappo — Future Former Self
File next to: Edwin Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Tame Impala
If you’re the kind of person who loved Flaming Lips‘ output circa Clouds Taste Metallic through Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, but feel they subsequently went off the rails and/or ran out of ideas, you’d do well to check out Chappo. With a sound at times reminiscent of Tame Impala, Chappo wraps pop melodies in arrangements that touch on synth-rock, psych, garage and Apples in Stereo styled chirpy pop. Seemingly disparate left-field elements like trip-hop percussion and wide-eyed psych-folk vocals unexpectedly combine seamlessly with ambitious arrangements that suggest an indie-rock rethink of Jellyfish. Funky/soulful guitars a la Beck are out front one moment, and the next thing you know, the melody’s floating on a pillowy synthesizer bed. Future Former Self is all over the musical map, but somehow it all works in a cohesive manner. If you want an album with a definable “sound,” look elsewhere. For adventure, look here.
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About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.