An American Chinese “Chasing Rabbit”
With a title like “Chasing Rabbit,” this track from An American Chinese’s pending debut LP, Utopian Tree, promises something like a melodic acid trip — and thankfully it delivers. The South Philadelphia-based band, which is performing at The Marvelous (the comic store next to Smoke's) this Friday with three other rising acts, normally deals in '60s rock-influenced ballads complete with ethereal female background vocals and exceptional outros. In “Chasing Rabbit” these ingredients remain, just at twice the pace, making the song even more addictive than their typical fare. Building off the relentless repetition of a few chords, the strain of a flute and a basic percussion pattern, the track might seem simple for all of its frenzy. But watch out — it’ll sneak up on you with some fantastic details, including dubbed-in echoes, unexpected breaks in rhythm and finally an inventive exchange of the real flute for a synthesized substitute that carries the song to finish. We’re all too happy to take a ride down this rabbit hole.
