Behold the aptly named album title. Chicago’s Shapers are certainly a little big on their debut Little, Big. As in a little Krautrock, a little free jazz, a little post-rock, a little psychedelia, and big as in tying all these genres together into a sprawling record that slowly unveils its hugeness listen after glorious listen. If it were called “Little, Big, Cool” then this review would be moot. For as much as Shapers experiment, there is always a coolness at hand that prevents indulgent freak outs and extended drones. Little, Big might be a dip into many waters, but it is always firmly rooted in the solid ground of songwriting.

Much like Can, Shapers have the feel of an instrumental band that happens to have vocals. That’s not to say there aren’t traditional vocals, like those in the song “Jar”, but often times, such as in the very Can-like”Milkbug”, the vocals are more or less there as another instrument. The drum heavy “Hot Gravy Available” has an almost paranoid vocal driving it, but you probably won’t find yourself singing along. You may, however, find yourself awkwardly air drumming. Hopefully with the curtains drawn.

The amazing thing about Little, Big is that it can stylistically be a bit all over the map without losing its sense of self. Not that they sound like Yo La Tengo, but Yo la Tengo has tackled everything from psychedelic freak outs to Motown soul while never not sounding like Yo La Tengo. Shapers go from the creepy bass heavy “Jar” to the rocking “Proboscidean”, with its spastic drumming and one note bass, to the loose and free jazzy 15+ minute “Mothership Sequins” without sounding like a band with multiple personalities. Little, Big, like all good debuts, reveals a band’s influences while not coming across as merely a mix tape.

And the closer, “Autoliberation”, is as close to Earth, Sun, Moon from Love and Rockets this side of Love and Rockets’ Earth, Sun, Moon. It’s two minutes and 37 seconds of acoustic bliss with little keyboard gurgles and deep, cold vocals. This new wave of psychedelia has often hinted at Love and Rockets, but “Autoliberation” doesn’t just hint at it, it takes you all the way back. It’s a fitting closer to an album that starts with what I believe to be a Crank Yankers sample followed by Yes-like noodling mingling with a schizophrenic marching band.

Therein lies the glory of Little, Big. Crank Yankers, Yes, marching bands, Yo la Tengo, Can and Love and Rockets all under one tightly knit quilt all while sounding uniquely Shapers. No small, or should I say, little feat. Little, Big indeed.
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Catch Shapers Monday, April 19, at The Whistler for a CHIRP benefit.
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Shapers -- “Hot Gravy Available”