PALMS [new Chino Moreno side project]

[Bza々]

musically is amazing... sounds dreamy... not really what i expected for the project. i thought that was crosses... vocally sound like the early demos of team sleep... the mix of the vox is not cool.... just saying

LMAO, no.

[Inkblades]

They updated their website, by the way. Here's the press release:

Entropy is the tendency of all matter to move from a state of order to disorder; the Big Bang scattered stars across the universe, friction turns to flame, ice dissolves into water. But sometimes entropy works in reverse, where destruction brings new beginnings. The Los Angeles heavy, stargazing rock outfit Palms was forged out of an explosive collision too, as Deftones vocalist Chino Moreno joined forces with critically-lauded post-metal group ISIS, venturing into bold sonic territory that careens from kinetic churning guitars to quiet, atmospheric moments mining rich emotional environments.

Palms' self-titled Ipecac Records debut is wrought with dark anthems and intense textures, shoring cinematic, introspective interludes with tidal waves of distortion. From the ashes of ISIS, the band's skeleton crew Bryant Clifford Meyer (guitars, keyboards), Jeff Caxide (bass, keyboards), Aaron Harris (drums, electronics), were faced with a decision: turn away from music or begin to build again. "After a little time Jeff, Cliff, and I decided that it was insane that we all still lived here in Los Angeles and weren't playing together," Harris says. "It just sort of happened naturally, probably because we have been playing together for so long, and things started to come together. But we didn't want to be instrumental: We wanted vocals. We just weren't exactly sure who that would be at first."

Topping their shortlist of singers was Chino Moreno, whose vocal complexity interfaced seamlessly with the multi-faceted vision of Palms. Harris, who also recorded and engineered the album, had heard that Moreno was an avid follower of ISIS and approached the singer with the new project. "I love the dynamic range that Chino is capable of," Harris says, "He can go from light and airy to sounding like he's got acid in his throat. His lyrics grab you and make you want to know more. I love that." Moreno immediately accepted. "A chance to work with the guys from ISIS sounded like a lot of fun," Moreno says, "I've always been into the atmospheric sounds they had created with that project and felt my sense of melody would meld well with theirs."

Moreno's dynamism balanced the tectonic shifts in Palms instrumentation, as he howls over Meyer's searing guitar that ignites a conflagration when mixed with of propulsive rhythms by Caxide and Harris on the climax of "Shortwave Radio." While creating the genre-obliterating album, Caxide says that their cumulative experience helped evolve their creative process. "We communicate much better than we did in ISIS," he says, "No one is afraid to speak up if they don't like something and our roles are not confined only to the instruments we play." Culled from "subconscious inspiration" as Meyer says of his intricately crafted keys and guitars, these sonic textures accumulate like sediments, providing dense layers that set the foundation for Moreno's skyward-arcing voice. Then there's the slow-burning "Antarctic Handshake," which pairs crystalline guitar chords echoing into space as Moreno's voice, both distant and resounding, pensively ruminates over subtle, sweeping synths: "It's time to let go." It's a statement, a question, or, perhaps, an invitation; these cryptic lyrics acting as an empty vessel for the listeners to ascribe meaning, or maybe a mirror reflecting back secrets dredged from deep within. "I've never been one to talk about my lyrics, never have been," Moreno says about the words he channels into song. "Musically I don't approach any project differently from one another, meaning I don't have preconceived ideas on how things should sound beforehand. It's really just hearing the music and being inspired then reacting to it."

But the emotional affect of Palms' album is distinct: it moves and is moving; a perpetually forward-lunging exploration of moments both epic and intimate as all-enveloping loudness bleeds into piercing near-silence. It's an evocative aesthetic that could score the soundtrack to dystopian films, or scorched-earth world of post-Apocalyptic novels, that resilient spring that follows a Nuclear Winter. These are songs with a sense of urgency, the inertia of breaking apart, and the energy of building it all again.

[DeftonesNZ]

Sounds awesome looks like this is going to be some darker guitar based stuff. I'm really looking forward to this.

[chuckles]

it will grow..

[laurapalmer]

Alright well, I really didn't care for the song at all after the first listen so I decided to listen to it again about 6 hours later with my good headphones. It certainly comes across much better in this capacity. I still don't love it but the vocals in the verses sound much better and less alienated although the choruses are still a bit strained to me. Instrumentally it's solid. I really hope this vocal mix isn't final. But at this point I'd guess it would have to be.

[endstand]

After hearing two Palms songs, I'm not a fan of this project. And I agree that Chino vocals on Patagonia are weird.

[play]

the instrumentation reminds me of Cocteau Twins

[bright lights, big city]

this project blows and i never want to hear anything else from them. they should just stop what they're doing and burn down ipecac so no one will ever hear the rest of the album.

[theis]

this project blows and i never want to hear anything else from them. they should just stop what they're doing and burn down ipecac so no one will ever hear the rest of the album.

[DeftonesNZ]

haha if you're into ambient dream poppy stuff this is actually really good, I expected this from Deftones fans though not as if there's not a huge overlap between Deftones fans and electronic ambient  music fans. I think anyone who like's the genre will like it but some people will never like any ambient stuff.

[bright lights, big city]

this project blows and i never want to hear anything else from them. they should just stop what they're doing and burn down ipecac so no one will ever hear the rest of the album.

haha yeah you got me.

[Slacker]

i agree instrumentally is so solid. such a hard match for vocals. the verses como through, but the chorus is a tough one. an yeah...the vocal mix aint a strong point either...i think harris should had brought other engineer to handles this duties...

tropics is able to mesh better fosho, but just like ya'll say, it 'ill grow.

[scarywindow]

i agree instrumentally is so solid. such a hard match for vocals. the verses como through, but the chorus is a tough one. an yeah...the vocal mix aint a strong point either...i think harris should had brought other engineer to handles this duties...

tropics is able to mesh better fosho, but just like ya'll say, it 'ill grow.

if you listened to ISIS, it was quite the same way with Aaron Turner.  the first thing that caught me off guard with that band was the vocals... all monotone and buried.  then i fell in love. 

i seriously think Patagonia will grow on most of you.  it is quite a beautiful track, and i think the production fits it just right, just as i do the vocals.  like i said, with this one and Tropics, i'm ready for Deftones to just lay down and for Palms to keep moving full steam ahead.  this band is probably where Chino's heart lies from this point on.  hate to put it that way, but i know if i were him, Palms would be my main focus.  Deftones have had their day.

[cvthedrv]

i think the chino's voice is so weak in this, but i prefer patagonia than tropics.

[scarywindow]

i think the chino's voice is so weak in this, but i prefer patagonia than tropics.

Let's face it... Chino is getting older.  There is a reason his voice has changed... and that's due to age + being so hard on it throughout the years.  Deftones are most likely never going to be what people stuck in the old-school (Adrenaline-Self-titled) want from this point on.  SNW, DIAMOND EYES, and KOI NO YOKAN were all great records... but, let's face it... Chino is more suited for projects like Palms and Crosses now.  His voice has changed drastically, and he is certainly more suited for the 'dream-pop'/'shoegaze' style now.  His voice is still silk, no doubt.  But the Eagle Screaming Chino has to be laid to rest at some point.  I don't see him performing songs like Elite in 5 years time... and that's fine with me.  To be honest, as much as I loved Koi, I'm really ready for Deftones to take a much needed LONG break.  Release Eros, and rest up.  Meanwhile, I'd love to see Palms release records until the day I die.  I'm really in love with this band.  I haven't felt 'in love' with Deftones since SNW.  That's just me though. 

I'd just encourage everyone to chill and wait.  I have no doubt that most of you will be in love with Palms by the time these tracks are put in context of the record. 

[nicklav]

i think the chino's voice is so weak in this, but i prefer patagonia than tropics.

Let's face it... Chino is getting older.  There is a reason his voice has changed... and that's due to age + being so hard on it throughout the years.  Deftones are most likely never going to be what people stuck in the old-school (Adrenaline-Self-titled) want from this point on.  SNW, DIAMOND EYES, and KOI NO YOKAN were all great records... but, let's face it... Chino is more suited for projects like Palms and Crosses now.  His voice has changed drastically, and he is certainly more suited for the 'dream-pop'/'shoegaze' style now.  His voice is still silk, no doubt.  But the Eagle Screaming Chino has to be laid to rest at some point.  I don't see him performing songs like Elite in 5 years time... and that's fine with me.  To be honest, as much as I loved Koi, I'm really ready for Deftones to take a much needed LONG break.  Release Eros, and rest up.  Meanwhile, I'd love to see Palms release records until the day I die.  I'm really in love with this band.  I haven't felt 'in love' with Deftones since SNW.  That's just me though. 

I'd just encourage everyone to chill and wait.  I have no doubt that most of you will be in love with Palms by the time these tracks are put in context of the record. 

I don't think these complaints have anything to do with his screams. Compare his "silky" voice on these songs to Digital Bath, Pink Maggit, MX, Natalie Portman, Teenager, Anniversary of an Uninteresting Event. There is a huge difference in his delivery and that's what I think people are complaining about.

[therealdaebat]

I am not a huge fan.  Sounds exactly like the stuff I don't really dig on SNW, DE, and KNY.  That being said, I'll still listen to the shit out of it because I like chino. 

[Slacker]

anyone taking a crack at the lyrics, not for nothing but the prod quality is so muddy, the mix aint right, and his vocals sound too raw.

my take...

patagonia

there's a hole in space
where the demons wage
they control our sounds
when the silence goes

by the time we awake
the desires go on

there's a queen in place
would design our course?
while the silence waits
'till the silence comes

we'll dance across the wire
it dares a part of me

(hum)

does a tree like rain?
smother lonely waves
to control our signs
when the silence comes

a hero inside
all over this wed
lying you'll find
all over his wreth

a hero inside
over his wreth
away from your stop
covered in smiles
laughing your steps!

across the wire!
dance!
above the plains!

there's a hole in space
where your demons wait
to control our sounds
when the silence goes
when the silence goes
will we see ourselves?
will the silence go?
when the silence goes

(hum)

(a hero inside, over this wed
laughing inside, over his wreth)

im sold...

[DeftonesNZ]

I don't think it's Chino's voice getting weaker I think like any musician he wants to do different things with his instrument so he changes up  his singing style, I'm sure well rested and fully healthy he could pull off any song.

[DaniknifeParty Ænema]

i think the chino's voice is so weak in this, but i prefer patagonia than tropics.

Let's face it... Chino is getting older.  There is a reason his voice has changed... and that's due to age + being so hard on it throughout the years.  Deftones are most likely never going to be what people stuck in the old-school (Adrenaline-Self-titled) want from this point on.  SNW, DIAMOND EYES, and KOI NO YOKAN were all great records... but, let's face it... Chino is more suited for projects like Palms and Crosses now.  His voice has changed drastically, and he is certainly more suited for the 'dream-pop'/'shoegaze' style now.  His voice is still silk, no doubt.  But the Eagle Screaming Chino has to be laid to rest at some point.  I don't see him performing songs like Elite in 5 years time... and that's fine with me.  To be honest, as much as I loved Koi, I'm really ready for Deftones to take a much needed LONG break.  Release Eros, and rest up.  Meanwhile, I'd love to see Palms release records until the day I die.  I'm really in love with this band.  I haven't felt 'in love' with Deftones since SNW.  That's just me though. 

I'd just encourage everyone to chill and wait.  I have no doubt that most of you will be in love with Palms by the time these tracks are put in context of the record.

Don't get me wrong , I feel lucky and grateful to be a Chino fan, To me, Chino music is a mirror where I perceive more of myself and in that familiarity "the band" becomes irrelevant and only I remain. Let him make music in any band. That's just me though.