Chromatics

For the study of color, see Color

Chromatics
Origin	Portland, Oregon, United States
Genres	Synthpop, post-punk, Italo Disco
Years active	2001–present
Labels	Italians Do It Better
Members
Ruth Radelet Adam Miller Nat Walker Johnny Jewel
Past members
Hannah Blilie Devin Welch Michelle Nolan Maximillion Ronald Avila Nat Sahlstrom Nate Preston Aleesha Whitley

Chromatics are a band from Portland, Oregon, whose current lineup features singer Ruth Radelet, guitarist Adam Miller, drummer Nat Walker, and producer/multi-instrumentalist Johnny Jewel. The band originally featured a trademark sound indebted to punk and lo-fi and described as "noisy" and "chaotic".^[1] After numerous lineup changes, which left guitarist Adam Miller as the sole original member, the band signed to the Italians Do It Better record label and pursued an Italo Disco sound.

History

Chromatics originally featured Adam Miller, guitarist Devin Welch, bassist Michelle Nolan, and drummer Hannah Blilie. After releasing debut album Chrome Rats vs. Basement Rutz in 2003, all members except Miller left to form Shoplifting.

Miller and a revamped lineup released Plaster Hounds in 2004. Further lineup changes from 2004-2005 reduced the band to the quartet of Miller, Ruth Radelet, Johnny Jewel, and Nat Walker, and resulted in a radical shift in the band's sound, from punk to Italo Disco. Chromatics are now often associated with labelmates Glass Candy, since Johnny Jewel plays in both bands, and Desire, a side project of Johnny Jewel and Nat Walker.

They have released three studio albums, including their most acclaimed^[2] effort, Night Drive, which was released in 2007 on Italians Do It Better. Other releases have included the "Nite" and "In Shining Violence" singles. In 2007, Chromatics were featured on the Italians Do It Better compilation After Dark, performing non-album tracks "In The City" and "Hands In The Dark", as well as a demo of Night Drive's "The Killing Spree".

Discography

Studio albums

• Chrome Rats vs. Basement Rutz (Gold Standard Laboratories, 2003)
• Plaster Hounds (Gold Standard Laboratories, 2004)
• Night Drive (Italians Do It Better, 2007)

Singles and EPs

• Beach Of Infants / Steps (Hand Held Heart, 2001)
• Arms Slither Away / Skill Fall (K, 2002)
• Cavecare (Hand Held Heart, 2002)
• Ice Hatchets / Curtains (Gold Standard Laboratories, 2003)
• Healer / Witness (Italians Do It Better, 2005)
• Nite (Italians Do It Better, 2006)
• In Shining Violence (Italians Do It Better, 2007)
• In The City (Italians Do It Better, 2010)

Other appearances

• As Ratz In The Basement (as Krmtx) (self-released tour CD-R, 2003)
• After Dark (Italians Do It Better, 2007)

References

1. ^ "Dusted Reviews: The Chromatics - Plaster Hounds". Dustedmagazine.com. 2004-04-06. http://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/1363. Retrieved 2011-01-03. 
2. ^ Chromatics: Night Drive: Pitchfork Record Review

External links

• Official page on Myspace