Despite the sudden departure of Claudia Deheza, vocalist and twin sister to
Alejandra Deheza, School of Seven Bells persevered and released their grandest, most lush album to date, Ghostory. The crippling blow of the absence of the dream pop band’s sibling harmonies was an afterthought to the ramped-up production and spectral arrangements of the band’s other member, Ben Curtis, formerly of Secret Machines, on the LP. Newly invigorated, School of Seven Bells brought their new sprawling new sound to Houston’s Fitzgerald’s last night.

Hit the jump for the full recap.

– sunbear

Standing before a pair of LCD replicas of the tri-circle venn diagrams (what is that thing anyway?) that adorn Ghostory’s artwork, front-woman Alejandra Deheza’s petite frame was bedecked with layers and layers of ornate bracelets, colossal teardrop earrings, and extravagant scarves. Add to that her raven-black blunt bangs, the woman was as much Cleopatra as rock-star.

Alejandra’s alluring and ethereal voice powered through Ghostory’s shimmering “The Night” and the elegant “Lafaye.” Vocal harmony duty rest with touring keyboardist/vocalist Allie Alvarado who did a fine job, though the chemistry was a bit off. But who can compare to the telepathy of twin sisters?

Bereft of the sonic production of Curtis on the album, SVIIB were a more organic band onstage, flourishing with each pulse, creating a denser sound than any number of macbooks could provide (there were however, two).

Guitar riffs were traded between Deheza and Curtis, rich with reverb and delay, and though her chatter was kept to a minimal, save for a shout-out to the dance-happy front row patrons, there was no mistaking the power of Deheza’s blissful voice as it closed out the night with longtime favorite “Half Asleep.”

Set list:

Intro
No Disguise
The Night
Windstrom
Bye Bye Bye
Love Play
White Elephant
Lafaye
Scavenger
ILU
White Wind
Low Times
My Cabal

Half Asleep
Sempiternal