Tier Apparent by Tiers La Familia

The outer-borough power trio - bandleader/vocalist/“non-disciplinary artist” Sefyu Sidney, keyboardist/vocalist Jeff Tobias (Modern Nature), and keyboardist/vocalist Cheryl Kingan (75 Dollar Bill Little Big Band) - is coming live and direct with their third tape in three years, Tier Apparent.

Driven by beats bit-crushed to a crisp and a genuinely offbeat melodic sensibility, Tier Apparent builds on the bonds that TLF has developed since evolving from Sidney’s bedroom project to a full-fledged body rocking live act. The chemistry between Sidney, Kingan, and Tobias radiates from the recording sessions, with laughter and group vocals regularly punctuating the proceedings.

This music is about “the death of nostalgia,” says Sidney. “No one will ever have nostalgia for the past anymore, ‘cos the past will be like 2016 or 2021.” Rejecting both regrets and rosy assessments of the past, Tier Apparent looks to the future with equal parts hardcore positivity and gallows-humor realism. “M4A in 2092” uses a skittering beat, shimmering house music synths, and out-of-tune autotune to skewer the laughably narrow horizon of reformist politics. “Buck Up” and “Brighter Everyday” embrace up-with-people chants with the genuine aim of uplifting the audience.

Tier Apparent was mixed by Ara White and mastered by Matt Bachmann (Mega Bog), and features appearances from Alyse Lamb (Parlor Walls), Brittain Ashford, Scott Smith (We Versus the Shark), and yllwblly. The splash-of-color artwork and layout were courtesy of Sasha Chimaera Suraski. It’s out digitally and on limited edition cassette via Strategy of Tension.

Fresh off a recent appearance on WFMU’s Radioactivity (hosted by the great Abbie from Mars), TLF will be continuing to bring their choreographed, manic, antic performances wherever they’re permitted.

strategyoftension.org