Under the Webb Chapel alias, Philadelphia’s Zack Claxton came to our attention last year via the excellent Strange Mono label, who released his album, Dalmatians.
Less than 12 months later, Claxton is back with the next Webb Chapel offering, Speeding, which is set for release on March 24 (once again via Strange Mono).
Exclusive to Sun 13, you can listen/watch the video for the album’s title track below.
Speeding continues the Webb Chapel odyssey of glow-wave psychedelia. In what is a nice progression from Dalmatians, Speeding is one of those albums that eases the burdens of your day. Stick it on at the end of the day and tell us otherwise…
Ahead of its release, Claxton comments on the recording process:
“Speeding was made in a little studio space on Germantown Ave. It felt like there was a Tom Parker/ Kathy Bates character who wouldn’t let me stop or leave unless another band was in there practicing. I didn’t see sunlight for what seemed like quite a while. I remember watching All the King’s Men’ about the Memphis mafia on YouTube and deep diving into Elvis as an entity or spirit. It seemed like he was commiserating or communicating with me on some level. Also Patti Duke interviews. By the time I was making Rosaline I was having trouble hearing notes or music, it all sounded like street noises. Speeding is an ode to ’50s/’60s workhorse bands with shitty contracts.”
The album features covers from Philadelphian band, Acid Freek, and French post-punk band, Mary Goes Round. After recording the songs, Claxton contacted Mary Goes Round’s Jerome Avril to seek permission to use the songs. “It felt like getting a blessing from the pope,” said Claxton.
All proceeds from Speeding will be donated to PAWS (Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society), a non-profit organisation dedicated to saving Philadelphia’s homeless and at-risk pets.
Purchase Speeding from the Strange Mono Bandcamp page.
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