The Chain Gang of 1974
The Chain Gang of 1974 is the moniker of multi-instrumentalist and DJ Kamtin Mohager's '80s-style alternative dance and synth pop project. Mohager initially garnered buzz with a series of independent releases before gaining wider attention with his 2014 major-label debut, Daydream Forever, and the 2017 Thom Powers-produced Felt.
Born in San Jose and raised in Hawaii and later Denver, Mohager's first passion was hockey, but after hearing Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" in the movie Real Genius, the teenager was inspired to play music. (The project's name references the Raveonettes album title The Chain Gang of Love, and the birth year of another of his favorite musicians, Ryan Adams.)
After playing bass on tour with 3OH!3 from 2007 through 2010, Mohager launched the Chain Gang of 1974. Released in 2010 on his own Golden Gold label, the early recordings collection Fantastic Nostalgic and full-length debut White Guts offered a sound borrowing from electro, synth pop, and post-punk, accented by Daft Punk-esque hooks and vocal stylings reminiscent of Passion Pit. Later that year, in the wake of a breakup, Mohager moved to Los Angeles and wrote his sophomore record Wayward Fire, a musical diary exploring that failed relationship which arrived on Modern Art in June 2011. He then signed with Warner Bros. for 2014's hooky electro-pop-infused Daydream Forever, which landed on Billboard's Heatseekers Albums chart.
Mohager eventually parted ways with Warner Bros. and took some time off to rethink his creative process. During this period, he befriended the Naked and Famous' Thom Powers and the two began working on new material with Powers producing. The resulting album, 2017's Felt, was self-released in partnership with Caroline Records. Featured on the album was the single, "Wallflowers." On the heels of the release, the Chain Gang of 1974 joined AFI on tour as on opening act. The following year, Mohager contributed to the shoegaze side project Teenage Wrist. In 2020, he returned with the Chain Gang of 1974's fifth studio album, Honey Moon Drips, which included a guest appearance by the duo TWINKIDS.
© Chrysta Cherrie /TiVo
Discography
21 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Heat of the Moment
PHNTMS, The Chain Gang of 1974
Alternative & Indie - Released by Phntms on 17 Mar 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Daydream Forever
Electronic - Released by Warner Records on 28 Jan 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
FELT
Alternative & Indie - Released by The Chain Gang of 1974 on 23 Jun 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Honey Moon Drips (Instrumental)
Alternative & Indie - Released by Fever Ltd. on 7 Aug 2020
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Wanting This
Alternative & Indie - Released by Fever Ltd. on 27 Apr 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Slow
Alternative & Indie - Released by The Chain Gang of 1974 on 18 Nov 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sleepwalking (Juventa Radio Edit)
Trance - Released by Enhanced Recordings on 24 Mar 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Pollen (Instrumental)
Alternative & Indie - Released by Fever Ltd. on 6 Sep 2019
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Distorted (By You)
Alternative & Indie - Released by Fever Ltd. on 17 Feb 2021
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Still Wonder
Alternative & Indie - Released by The Chain Gang of 1974 on 9 Sep 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Highwire Days (CHADWICK Remix)
Alternative & Indie - Released by Fever Ltd. on 3 May 2023
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wallflowers
Alternative & Indie - Released by The Chain Gang of 1974 on 24 Mar 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Forget (AObeats Remix)
Alternative & Indie - Released by The Chain Gang of 1974 on 20 Oct 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wallflowers (M0NS00NS Remix)
Alternative & Indie - Released by The Chain Gang of 1974 on 7 Jul 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Slow (Lindstrøm + Prins Thomas Remix)
Alternative & Indie - Released by The Chain Gang of 1974 on 27 Jan 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Still Wonder (The New Division Remix)
Alternative & Indie - Released by The Chain Gang of 1974 on 14 Oct 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Psychodrama
Olivver the Kid, The Chain Gang of 1974
Alternative & Indie - Released by Olivver the Kid on 19 Nov 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo