Cheer-Accident - 2026 - You Smile. The Song Is Over

(172:37; Cuneiform Records)






















Cheer-Accident have been a mainstay of the Chicago independent scene for some four decades, formed by multi-instrumentalist Thymme Jones all the way back in 1981 and have always operated with a floating membership. On this, their 27th studio album, they have one list of the 15 who were involved, and then a separate list of what instruments were used, but no confirmation of who actually did what. However, we do know who played what on the two concerts which are included in the deluxe edition of this album, which somewhat amazingly are the first official live albums of their career even though they have performed hundreds of shows. The first was recorded in Chicago in 2022 with nine members, while that line-up reduced by two for the Chicago show the following year.

I confess to coming to the band rather late in that I have only known them for the last 9 years, and I have certainly not heard all of the material during that period, and nothing at all prior to ‘Putting Off Death’, but that is only due to not having the time to investigate albums as I would like, as there is no doubt there is always something special about Cheer-Accident albums and that is what we have again with this one. Imagine Beefheart, Bacharach and Zappa sat in a studio with unlimited time, skilled musicians and total free rein, being encouraged to mix things up in a way which is somewhat recognisable yet totally different to what anyone else is performing and it is possible that you may get close to what is taking place between my ears. At times it feels like we have a brass section being deliberately difficult and obtuse, a barroom pianist, jazz musicians, a rock band trying to play a groove, an overarching opinion of highly organised and scored improvisation with chaos somehow controlled and recorded. It is surrealistic, avant garde, RIO in the extreme, yet somehow containing elements which in other settings would be seen as commercial yet here just adds to the weirdness on show.

It is massively broad, a sprawling mess of music, yet some of the nuggets are concentrated and controlled, which makes for confusing yet compelling listening. Then when they move into the live environment everything shifts up a notch or three and everything feel more extreme, more dynamic, with the chaos barely kept in check, and a feeling that this is a band on the edge of implosion who somehow just manage to maintain the sanity of themselves and the audience. Intriguing and very special indeed while never conforming to any expectations, this will only be appreciated by a few but those will love it. 

Kev Rowland, August 2026

Links:
https://www.cheer-accident.com/
http://www.cuneiformrecords.com/

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