Microcosms - Someone You Know
MICROCOSMS GET EDGY ON ‘SOMEONE YOU KNOW’
Chicago’s alt-rock power trio Microcosms dropped a new EP, Someone You Know, just moments ago.
Microcosms
According to frontman Andrew Tschiltsch (vocals, guitar), Microcosms’ sound is best defined as “making music to question your beliefs to.” He goes on to explain, “I was questioning my place in the world. I wanted to spend my time doing what I felt would be valuable to society and make me happy.”
Originally from SoCal, Tschiltsch moved to Chicago after finishing his education at Indiana University. A drummer, he learned guitar from a videogame called Rocksmith, which as Tschiltsch explains, is “like Guitar Hero but with a real guitar.”
Every night after getting home from work, Tschiltsch spent his free time laying down tracks for demos. Hooking up with Bryan Emer (bass), and Jered Piepenbrink (drums), the trio formed Microcosms, releasing their debut EP, Know My Body, in 2017, followed by a series of punchy singles climaxing with 2019’s “Forget Us,” a potent punk-flavored song.
The band’s contagious sound, showcased at popular Chicago venues such as Crown Liquors, Burlington Bar, Gallery Cabaret, and Café Mustache, is expanding throughout the region, taking them to performances in Wisconsin and Indiana.
“Waste of Time” opens on skintight guitars rife with retro surf-rock tones flowing into a searing guitar-accented melody.
As Tschiltsch says, “For now, we’ve been focusing on what works best within a power trio lineup – mostly punkier/grungier stuff – but we’ll be expanding on that sound in the future. I think the biggest thing for us is our varied influences combined with our collective laid-back demeanor. We're good about consistently practicing, which keeps our chemistry tight and allows us time to experiment with new songs or modify current ones. We all take things just seriously enough to be dangerous but not enough to where we're stressing each other out. It's a great balance and I think it shows.”
Encompassing two-tracks, the EP opens with the title track, which rides cool pop-punk dynamics on glittering jangly guitars laced with Brit-punk-new-wave tints atop a simple, yet tight rhythmic progression. I love the sparkling guitar runs leading into growling surges of thicker guitars, as Tschiltsh’s tasty voice infuses the tune with knotty vocal inflections.
“Waste of Time” opens on skintight guitars rife with retro surf-rock tones flowing into a searing guitar-accented melody. A rumbling breakdown shifts the harmonics to deeper tones, and then mousses up to dark, cat-on-a-hot-tin-roof moodiness.
With Someone You Know, Microcosms deliver infectious grooves, scrumptiously hefty harmonics, and punk-filled angsty vocals. This EP is innovative and excellent.
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