Levator

“As I am prone to do from time to time, this week I had a special in-studio performance by Levator. Strickly speaking, Levator IS Sky Lynn (on guitar, vocals & effects), who, in the past, has been joined by various other friends and collaborators. This time she was joined by Rando Skrasek on drums, who provided an excellent back-beat for her carefully constructed and beautifully layered songs. Comparisons to Galaxie 500 or Mazzy Star are possible, but Sky manages to reach sonic textures that skirt the edge of Sonic Youth proportions, and has other, more sparse moments that conjur a singer-songwriter motif. But to really get a feel for what I'm talking about, you just gotta tune in.” KPSU.org, Austin Rich May 2, 2006 - KPSU.org

Listening to Levator feels really good. The artfully constructed and pleasant strains of pop rock feel like trying on soft, multicolored layers of your favorite T-shirts.

This is a band to study to, a band to read to and a band to live to. In other words, Levator and its 2006 album "Jackson Hwy. Barnes Drive" are simultaneously soothing and upbeat.

Perhaps the best way to describe Levator is as the band most likely to land on a future "Grey's Anatomy" soundtrack.

"Jackson Hwy. Barnes Drive" is a 12-track, hour-long album filled with the breathy and mature vocals of Sky Lynn on guitar backed by the presence of Rando Skrasek on drums.

Absent from the record are building rockers; instead, the artsy and soulful piece is mellow.

The album starts off with "Another Day," a song that sounds as though it is a cousin of "Downtown" by Tegan and Sara, the Canadian singer-songwriter duo.

Next up is "Try...Wait," an eight-minute song that speeds way up before it slows down.

"As Yours Would" is a cool psychedelic experience, and "Fingers & Toes" is a definite highlight.

Lynn sings about "wishing time away" in "Perfect World" to close the album.

Overall, "Jackson Hwy. Barnes Drive" is melodic and dreamy with a definite indie feel.

Levator began as Lynn's solo project when she played her first show in Seattle on March 17, 2003.

The name "Levator" comes from a surgical instrument used to lift the depressed fragments of a fractured skull.

In 2004, Lynn released her self-produced and self-recorded album "Midnight."

Her first album consisted of 12 varied songs, including the popular rocker "Disease" and the piano pop of "White Hair," in which Lynn sang about her visible dark side.

"Midnight" was recorded in her home studio, where she sang and played every instrument including the organ, drums, clarinet and guitar.

She played multiple shows and tours in 2005 in a flexible fashion, accompanied by various musician friends who played with her on moog, baritone guitar, trumpet, bass and drums.

Levator gained another member in 2006 when Skrasek joined. Lynn and Skrasek toured to promote "Jackson Hwy. Barnes Drive."

The band became a four-piece in 2007 with the additions of Jeremy Mitchell on bass and keyboard, and Nate Henry on tenor sax and keyboard.

Fans have compared Levator to Galaxie 500 and Mazzy Star. The band is also recommended to lovers of Sonic Youth, Elliott Smith, Neil Young and The Cure.

Levator recently completed a month-long West Coast tour through Washington, Oregon, Nevada and California.

By: Laura Kasavan - The Mustang Daily

Levator, a Seattle band featuring breathy lyrics and atmospheric melodies that are sweeter than a lullaby, plays the Frog and Peach on Sunday, October 7, for a free, 9 p.m. show. This is indie pop at its most lilting, with trance-inducing guitars and lush vocals-completely arresting, thoroughly fascinating.
October 4, 2007 - New Times - Glen Starkey - New Times

Hauntingly sweet and dripping with ambience, the delicate compositions of Levator will float through your dreams. The band's musty yet cool indie pop is detailed and precise, like a recurring dream you just can't forget.
"Perfect World" takes life as a modern-day lullaby. "It's a perfect world and I'm wishing time away…" Sky Lynn breathes into the microphone. Rather than "Hush little baby, don't you cry," this lullaby full of melody gives hope for a world without worries, where time ceases.
Sky Lynn formed Seattle-based Levator in 2003. Lynn spent a year making her first album, Midnight, which she started by buying a computer and software. Late nights spent experimenting and tweaking paused only for life, love and travel. After she finished self-recording and producing Midnight, Lynn dabbled in the art of video production. She created a show featuring seven solo performers with video she specifically shot and edited for each one.
2006 saw the addition of permanent member Rando Skrasek and the recording and release of Levator's most current album, Jackson Hwy. Barnes Drive. Over two months, Lynn packed up her van Fridays after work, drove to her father's Oregon ranch, where she grew up, and hammered away on the new material until it was time to head north on Sunday night.
This singer-songwriter has warranted comparisons to PJ Harvey and Mazzy Star, and her song textures to that of Sonic Youth. Levator, Muke and Testface play at 10 pm Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Luckey's. $3-$5. 21+ show. — Anne Pick Eugene Weekly 2/21/08
- Eugene Weekly