Lost Classics: Rachel’s “The Sea And The Bells”

They’re nobody’s buzz bands anymore. But since 1993, MAGNET has discovered and documented more great music than memory will allow. The groups may have broken up or the albums may be out of print, but this time, history is written by the losers. Here are some of the finest albums that time forgot but we remembered in issue #75, plus all-new additions to our list of Lost Classics.

:: RACHEL’S
The Sea And The Bells // Quarterstick, 1996
Neo-classical? Avant-chamber? Pre-rock? No one has ever been able to determine what genre of music this instrumental Louisville, Ky., collective played. There’s the modern-classical feel of 1995’s Handwriting, the chamber pop of 1996’s Music For Egon Schiele, the minimalist experimentation of 1999’s Selenography and the post-rock beauty of 2003’s Systems/Layers. But Rachel’s—pianist Rachel Grimes, bassist/guitarist Jason Noble, violinist Christian Frederickson and assorted friends and neighbors—were most impressive on The Sea And The Bells. Inspired by a collection of poems by Pablo Neruda, the album features 15 guest musicians, giving Rachel’s the opportunity to venture into full-blown orchestra territory. At turns classical, experimental, jazzy, ambient and avant garde, this hour-long set is unlike anything you’ve ever heard.

Catching Up: After collaborating and staging a multimedia piece with New York City theater company SITI in 2005 and 2006, Rachel’s went on hiatus. Noble plays in Shipping News, and Frederickson has recorded with Mission Of Burma and Matt Pond PA; the two formed the Young Scamels in 2007.

“Rhine & Courtesan”:
https://magnetmagazine.com/audio/RhineAndCourtesan.mp3