On their mesmerizing sophomore album, Whispers in the Speech Machine, Ohio siblings The Laughing Chimes fully embrace their Southern Gothic influences, skillfully blending the bright jangle of their infectious pop with the shadowy undertones of their rust belt surroundings.
Evan and Quinn Seurkamp began recording as The Laughing Chimes while attending an afterschool music program at their local opera house, leading to their 2020 debut, In This Town. They quickly followed with a string of well-received digital singles and a cassette EP for Slumberland, captivating discerning pop fans with a sound that fuses Paisley Underground shimmer with echoes of Flying Nun and ‘80s Athens, GA.
With eight assured tracks, Whispers in the Speech Machine solidifies The Laughing Chimes’ place in the indie landscape, showcasing their evolving songwriting and sonic depth. “Southeast Ohio is the foothills of Appalachia, so it has this indescribable mood and atmosphere to it,” Evan told The Big Takeover. “Sometimes there’s a haunting weight of decay you want to escape, but at the same time, a strange romanticism in ghost towns. We’ve tried to channel those moods to bring a stronger regional identity to our sound.”