| School of Seven Bells | |
|---|---|
Alejandra Deheza and Benjamin Curtis |
|
| Background information | |
| Origin | New York, NY, USA |
| Genres | Indie rock Dream pop Electronic Shoegaze |
| Years active | 2007-present |
| Labels | Ghostly International Vagrant Records Full Time Hobby |
| Associated acts | Secret Machines On!Air!Library! Prefuse 73 Tripping Daisy |
| Website | www.sviib.com |
| Members | |
| Benjamin Curtis Alejandra Deheza |
|
| Past members | |
| Claudia Deheza James Elliott Joe Stickney |
|
School of Seven Bells (often just SVIIB) is a band formed by Benjamin Curtis of Secret Machines, together with identical twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza, formerly of On!Air!Library!. The band is named after the School of the Seven Bells, a mythical South American pickpocket training academy.[1]
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Curtis and the Deheza sisters met when both were opening on an Interpol tour.[2] The three decided to end their commitments to their old bands, move in to a shared space, and create a home recording studio together.[1]
Their sound has been described as dreamy and ethereal, and the lyrics as abstract. However, singer Alejandra Deheza insists that the lyrics are not abstract or obscure.
The band has an unorthodox song writing process that begins with lyrics, which are only supplemented by the music.[1] Curtis has said this is the most important part of the band with "everything else [being] accompaniment." A before-and-after example of this process is hosted by NPR's program Day to Day (starting at 3:50).[3]
In concert, Curtis, who stays mostly on lead guitar can often be seen manipulating various electronic devices in between guitar segments.
A single My Cabal was released in May 2007 on the UK label Sonic Cathedral.
A 12"/digital EP Face to Face on High Places was released in September 2007 on Table of the Elements, in addition to a single from Prefuse 73 called Class of 73 Bells that features the band.[2] The band then toured with Blonde Redhead and with Prefuse 73.[2]
School of Seven Bells' debut album, Alpinisms, was released one year later in 2008. They then went on tour with Bat for Lashes on her UK Two Suns tour.
School of Seven Bells' track "Chain" from their album Alpinisms was featured on an Adult Swim and Ghostly International compilation album, Ghostly Swim, promoted by Adult Swim and available for free download.[4]
Their second album, Disconnect From Desire was released in July 2010 : it was hailed by Pitchfork.[5] During the accompanying tour, they covered a Siouxsie and the Banshees song, "Kiss Them for Me".[6]
The band was awarded International Bet of the Year (Aposta Internacional) at the 2010 MTV Video Music Brasil.
On October 12, 2010, it was announced via their Facebook page that Claudia Deheza had left the band due to personal reasons.[7]
On November 14, 2011, it was announced (in an interview with Stereogum) that their third album, Ghostory, would be released in spring of 2012.[8]