Pearls and Brass is a 70s inspired rock band from Nazareth, Pennsylvania, established in 2001. They released their first album in 2003, titled LP, and their somewhat relevant album, The Indian Tower, in 2006.
The record label Doppelganger Records published the band’s first album and gained an insane amount of recognition when they opened for Sint at England’s All Tomorrow’s Parties festival. They had been scouted by Drag City records specializing in indie rock, noise rock, alternative country, experimental music, and psychedelic folk.
Here are my thoughts on the album The Indian Tower: I first heard the band while searching on youtube for music that I enjoyed and could write about in further posts. It was around one in the morning, and I was trying to find artists similar to WitchCraft, which I have been silently enjoying for a while now. It was then that I heard the song The Face of God, and it felt entirely unholy and righteous at the same time. I think I listened to the whole album in one sitting, and I was mesmerized.
The music sounded complex yet perceived as remarkably smooth. It felt rigid and rugged, dark and profound, rebellious, and authoritative. I was roped in when I had heard the song “I learn the Hard Way.” It sounded different and dark but made me happy. The music itself felt quite disgusting or disturbing in the most brilliant way possible. It was beautiful in the same manner, the song “Away the Mirrors” is. Both played on an acoustic guitar rather than an electric, making something about the music feel creepy yet stunning. They blew my mind.
I’d recommend this album to any heavy metal and rock guitar fans—anyone who enjoys bands like WitchCraft, Earthless, and Pentagram.
Josh Martin’s backbeat was full of energy and blew me away. I dug the album. They’re doing something that hasn’t been regularly done before or in a long time. Some songs felt like sunshine blues-rock. It was an odd mix that I think ended up in the benefit of a great album.
Written in Drag City’s words, “Listen close, and you can hear the world’s collective neck snapping as it bangs its head to this powerful trio. Riff-heavy rock from Pennsylvania.”
