HAMILTON MUSIC NOTES
By Ric Taylor        Published: December 18 - 24, 2003

Over the last three years, the duo known as Chrome
Yellow has added members with every new album. Like
new brothers coming of age and joining the posse, first a
bass player then a guitarist were added–now The Chrome
Yellow Co. looks and sounds like an indie rock version of a
stylized ’60s group (but they’re not related). TCYC
celebrates their newest CD, Red Light Runners, in a
familiar familial way this weekend, just in time for the
holidays.

“We figured everyone would be home for the holidays
and wondering what they could do for fun,” explains lead
singer and guitarist Luca Ciardullo. “There’s going to be
a good holiday spirit in the air. It’s a nice way for everyone
to come together have fun and get that warm fuzzy
feeling everyone should have at this time of year.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Recorded with Duke Foster as engineer and Chris Bell
(Chore) as producer, Ciardullo, drummer Mario Spina,
bassist Charlie Tirone and guitarist Rico Tudico have
recorded their first album as a full–on band. With fragile
vocals and chiming guitars, the indie rock idiosyncrasies
that formulate TCYC’s songs come to the forefront this
time out.

“The new album is a natural progression because we’re
all writing together as a band now,” offers Ciardullo.
“They are songs that have been on our set list and we just
had to record. It’s an eight–song EP that helps introduce
our sound and the band but the only time we were in the
same room is when we did the bass tracks with Dan
Medakovic in this big room where they normally record
orchestras for movies.”

While the music still captures an elusive and
atmospheric pop band, the songs are more personal and
passionate — perhaps offering up TCYC’s own version of
a blue Christmas.
“Every instrument is very clear and there’s not a lot of
layers like we’ve used in the past. It’s very stripped down
and makes the songs become even more important. I
think every album has a theme to it even if it’s not a
concept album, and if you listen to this one you can
understand the common thread on this release. It’s about
heartbreak and it’s something I just couldn’t shake.”

The Chrome Yellow Co. celebrates the release of Red
Light Runners this Saturday December 20 at the
Underground with Shade and In Silent Code. Admission is $5.