It’s been very pleasant to see former Modernage bandmates Alex De Renzis and (key whiz) Garcia Freundt, better known as Garundt these days, continue to make music under the guise of Condors & Chaos – backing the very talented Natasha De Renzis.
As they told the Jitney last November, their collaborative process starts in their airconditioned garage, where Garundt’s riffs spark jam sessions, and Natasha brings lyrics and melodies to life. Alex’s drumming, known to Floridians for his stints in the aforementioned Modernage, And Then There Was You, Phantom Drive, and Hunters of the Alps is instantly recognizable for power and appropriateness. A chameleonic skill given the various acts he’s backed.
Their singles, “Drug” and “Dust” run the range of sonic highs and lows. Grimy when needed, clean and airy when appropriate; even when things get ethereal given Natasha’s vocal range, nothing seems out of place. Imagine the muscle of arena rock informed by 90’s alt rock and late aughts indie rock birthed by a playlist heavy with Clikatat Ikatowi, the Fucking Champs, and the like but fronted by PJ Harvey – if PJ Harvey was a Latin Grammy nominee.
Condors & Chaos
I’m also enjoying their connective tissue to Andean culture since the condor is a sacred symbol of strength, freedom, and the connection between earth and sky. As scavengers, condors feed primarily on carrion, bringing a sense of order through a diet that plays a crucial role in their ecosystems.
All that to say that Condors & Chaos does sound a lot better than “Condors & Order.” That’s fucking boring but we should all appreciate that we understand that in their chaos, the band restores a sense of order to South Florida’s music scene. Let’s hope these singles flesh out into a full-length release real soon.
Also, it should be mentioned that the image above was not provided by the band. It is the product of a violent back-and-forth with MS Copilot trying to do something quirky and fun for the layout. However, as a Jitney representative, I will continue to unleash these images into the ether if an album does not materialize within the next six months.
In the meantime, you can catch them LIVE at Bar Nancy on December 27 and at Shirley’s at Gramps on January 11.
