With the January release of their latest album, "Love Your Abuser," the Lymbyc Systym is poised to become one of Phoenix's premier acts.
The band, which artfully mixes elements of indie rock, electronic and experimental music, is comprised of two brothers raised in the Valley. Michael and Jared Bell, ages 26 and 23, respectively, have been playing music since they were youngsters, according to Michael.
"I'm not sure why, but we both got into music at a fairly early age," Michael says through email correspondence. "Neither of our parents are musicians, but I'm sure it is locked away in their genealogy somewhere."
Perhaps it is a genetic connection that aided the Lymbyc Systym on their path to making music. The new album shows their collaboration has a rare focus during a time when many experimental bands will put just about anything into a song.
The band debuted "Love Your Abuser" on Mush, an indie record label based out of Los Angeles, and it is their first foray into full-length territory. For such a monumental release in the band's career, the Bells could have chosen to play it safe. Instead, with the support of their label, they chose to explore their craft in new ways.
"The new record is much rawer than any of our previous recordings," Michael says. "We strove to achieve a sound that was less sterile and more fucked up than our previous EP, incorporating a wider palette of influences, while maintaining something very cohesive throughout."
In step with current trends in the recording business, the duo decided to record the album themselves in their home. This approach "allowed tons of room for experimentation and reconstruction of ideas," claims Michael.
Michael points out that this experimental mode of operations for the Lymbyc Systym is unique in the local music scene.
"I think the Phoenix scene is fairly uninspiring musically," he says.
The Bells see themselves as quickly transcending the Phoenix circuit, noting that there are few other local bands getting out of the Valley and on to a national stage.
The Systym's recent signing with Mush, an imprint of Dirty Loop Music, shows their desire and potential to move beyond Phoenix.
Robert Curcio, co-founder of Mush says, "What really caught our attention was a recording of a live show they sent us. There was so much emotion and a real edge to the live recording, and we thought they had it in them to make a great album."
According to the band's friend and occasional merchandise peddler, Evan Fox, getting signed "was one of the best things that could have happened to them. It's the perfect label for those guys."
Michael credits the signing to the band's ambition, citing the word of mouth they generated among fans during multiple national tours. Average show-goers weren't the only ones buzzing about the Lymbyc Systym's intense live offering. The duo also made fans with Sub Pop band The Album Leaf, whose music has been featured on "The O.C." Their connection led to an opening spot for part of the San Diego band's 2006 American tour.
The brothers even managed to score a guest spot from The Album Leaf's front man, Jimmy LaVelle, who Michael cites as an influence during the band's musical maturation process.
"Jimmy has come with some great advice as far as our set structures and how to really captivate The Album Leaf's crowds by playing our best, most focused material."
If the excitement around the band is any indication, that advice was just the icing on the Systym's cake of tasty post-rock.
"The thing that impressed me the most about their music was how good they sounded as a two-piece," says Fox. "Their dynamics and presentation blew me away. It was like, 'Whoa, these guys are from here?'"
Of course, if the brothers continue down the path they're currently on, they probably will not be "from here" much longer. Michael hints at their plans to permanently move away from the Phoenix area. Their label sees bigger and better things ahead as well, according to Curcio.
"They are really willing to put in all of the touring and hard work to become successful," he says. "We're going to push their record as hard as we can and hopefully a short time from now they'll be able to make a decent sized mark in the music scene."
Reach the reporter at: eric.graf@asu.edu.
