Review: Canopy – The Healing Sessions

Wisconsin’s Ryan Vanden Heuvel apparently “has a thing for music with no words”. This is the cue for forty minutes of sublime ambient/post-rock, where the tunes are generally upbeat but with plenty of openings for the melancholy to filter through.

As is often the case, when instrumental music hits home, it can often possess a stronger emotive pull than lyrics. ‘Come Alive Again’ is certainly a rousing opener; revolving around a nagging guitar refrain and propulsive bass rhythms and is a very good example of modern shoegaze.  ‘Stray’ brings in the crashing waves but as soon as the warm chords and glacial beats take hold, the track casts its seductive spell. Vanden Heuvel rarely opts for the loud side of post-rock and even when he does so – as on the towering, skyscraping ‘The Change’ – it is balanced by enigmatic melody. The slightly cheesy ‘1988’ sounds like it may have been recorded in the late 1980’s but still has a certain period charm. On the other hand, the superb ‘Isolate’ rides in on robust rhythms, squalling guitars and serene layers of melody to make some lovely modern dream pop and an experimental conclusion to the record is given further weight by the samples and haunting atmosphere of ‘Escape Control’

That ‘Healing Sessions’ title is not as inappropriate as you might thing. This is music to lose yourself in but it’s always strident and strong enough so that it doesn’t succumb to the traps of background chillwave music.

Web Sites:
Canopy Bandcamp

Further Listening:
Melorman, David Newlyn

Review: Nicholas Krgovich – On Sunset

Full marks to Canada’s Nicholas Krgovich and his team for arousing interest. His latest album is said to be “experimental music masquerading as pop” in a similar vein to classic albums such as ‘Steve McQueen’, ‘Cupid & Psyche ’85’ and ‘Avalon’, as well as drawing comparisons to Donald Fagen. What’s not to love?

‘The Backlot’ is our introduction to some sumptuously arranged soul music, with female harmonies and brass and string parts that are engaging and never obtrusive. Thanks to their rolling keyboard motifs, refined production values and nocturnal atmosphere, ‘Along The PCH On Oscar Night’ and ‘City Of Night’ come across like Vancouver-based versions of The Blue Nile. Meanwhile, further highlights ‘Cosmic Vision’ and ‘You’re Through’ are inventively arranged and produced and given further gravitas by Krgovich’s smoother than smooth tones.

It’s probably no coincidence that ‘On Sunset’ was produced by John Collins who also has credits on past Destroyer releases; another act with a penchant for exquisite 80’s-flavoured productions. The ideas seem to fizzle out slightly towards the end of the record as the album settles into tasteful but unspectacular soul music but otherwise this is a classy affair which makes light of the weight of its impeccable influences.

Web Sites:
Nicholas Krgovich Official Site
Nicholas Krgovich Bandcamp
Nicholas Krgovich – Along The PCH On Oscar Night

Further Listening:
Destroyer, The Blue Nile, Scritti Politti

Review: Postcode – Year Of The Zebra – Part One

Just when you thought all the sub-genres in the universe had been exhausted, along comes Zebracore. Needless to say, this is presumably a joke term conjured up by Isle Of Man act, Postcode, although given the fixation with the black and white striped mammal throughout the cover art, album and song titles, you’d be forgiven for thinking the branding has gone to their heads. In reality, though, their music is relatively straightforward and nostalgic for a time when British indie ruled the airwaves.

‘Yggdrasil’ begins with duelling jangly guitars and Marie Reynolds’s cool, cooing vocals will possibly win favour with lovers of any number of 1990’s female-fronted indie bands. The lengthy ‘At Last’ moves amicably enough between mid-paced fare and rousing anthemic rock. There’s more emphasis on acoustic guitar for the pleasant, gently seductive ‘Blue Fluff’ but the EP refuses to catch fire until the end. That moment occurs on a classy ‘Letting Go’, which has a similar lilting feel to ‘Blue Fluff’ but the fuller arrangement and wistful melancholy are wonderfully judged. They finish with a flourish too, thanks to the grungy, visceral ‘Boardwalk’; an energising song tailor made for closing out a live gig and an indicator of what is to come on the harder-edged ‘Part Two’.

One can imagine Postcode being signed to Kitchenware Records if they existed twenty years ago and they certainly bear a strong resemblance to Hug from that same label. Overall, ‘Year Of The Zebra – Part One’ is solid – if rather dated – indie rock fare but the ending to the EP certainly suggests they have special songs in them. Those seeking more darker, psychedelic adventures, however, should check out the more recent ‘Part Two’.

Web Sites:
Postcode Tumblr
Postcode – Year Of The Zebra Part One

Further Listening:
Hug, Catatonia

Review: C Duncan – Architect

These are good times for Glasgow’s Christopher (C) Duncan with A list status achieved on respected station BBC 6 and now his first album about to be released. The man doesn’t disappoint on that score either with a truly original set of songs which combine folk, choral music and dream pop.

‘Architect’ is introduced by ‘Say’, with vocals which are both soothing, gentle and yet slightly eerie. The chorus is simply heavenly, consistently of lighter than air harmonies, not unlike an alt-folk Scritti Politti but really that only tells not even half of the story. A full-bodied title track heads skyward. The arrangement is reminiscent of retro-futurist revivalists such as My Autumn Empire and The Superimposers; given more magic by Duncan’s spiritual presence. The filmic, ambient-flavoured ‘Silence And Air’, the slightly unsettling couplet of ‘New Water’ and ‘Novices’ and a luscious ‘He Believes In Miracles’ are all paradigms of modern, psychedelic folk.

‘For’ really is like discovering a lost treasure from the late 1960’s; its delightful chorus, blessed with whistling and hypnotic vocal melodies are as beguiling a moment as there is to hear this year. In a rare break from the chilled reverie, ‘Garden’ signals a change in pace; Duncan racing through the song with a new found drive and yet the melody still recalls Cream’s ‘I Feel Free’, whilst ‘By’ possess a rich organ-led momentum. He even pulls off the trick of a genuinely touching lullaby on ‘I’ll Be Gone By Winter’ and it’s a real comfy jumper moment.

The word ethereal tends to get overused but the description is a perfect fit for Duncan’s beautifully tender vocals and expertise with arrangements. ‘Architect’ is a definite contender for album of the year.

Web Sites:
Stream of C Duncan’s ‘Architect’
C Duncan Page on Fat Cat

Further Listening:
My Autumn Empire,The Superimposers, Goldfrapp, Renfro

Review: Passarella Death Squad – Ghosts EP

London’s Passarella Death Squad have the distinction of being both a cult clothing designer as well being purveyors of electronica that is both chilling and chilled. 2013’s ‘Giant EP’ impressed with its mesmeric, late night drive atmospherics. The ‘Ghosts EP’ is similar in theme.

The title track floats on a gorgeous bed of piano loops, Kraftwerk rhythms and serene ambience. Emilie Albisser’s vocals have the suitably haunting gravitas to do justice to the title and the song possesses the allure to be listened to in a trance-like state. ‘Ghosts’ is intended as a tribute to notorious German dancer/actress Anita Berber and it is by some distance the best of the three offerings here. ‘Empire’ is more sparse and even more slow-paced than ‘Ghosts’; head nodding is advisable as the track thrives on repetition and hypnotic elements but Albisser is the real star here as her performance adds eeriness and beauty. By the time the last of trio is presented, the EP has lost its edge somewhat because ‘Something’s Burning’ is reminiscent of 90’s chill-out remixing and could do with extra ingredients and variety to liven it up somewhat.

So, it’s another fifteen minutes of superior chill-out/IDM. Once again, Passarella Death Squad’s music remains superficially attractive and although there’s not much to engage the heart and the soul, there’s plenty to keep the brain and feet satisfied.

Web Sites:
Passarella Death Squad Official Site
Passarella Death Squad Blog
Passarella Death Squad – Ghosts EP

Further Listening: The Future Sound Of London

Review: The Last King Of England – The Last King Of England

He is blessed with a name that befits royal appointment and sure enough Carta member Sacha Alessandro Marcello Berardinelli Galvagna anoints himself The Last King Of England for his first solo album. This project has been described as a sister album of sorts to Carta’s own ‘The Faults Follow’ and there are definite parallel’s with that band’s penchant for elegant misery.

Galvagna begins with the morose ‘Heartache’, calling to mind Piano Magic’s early career and even more so when made complete with the bleakest of lyrics (“I didn’t want to disappoint you. Again and again and again”). Set to a ticking clock rhythm, ‘Cassette’ takes the eeriness to another dark recess of arcane gloom and what comes after does little to disrupt the slow-paced melancholy.

Yet there are delights to behold throughout even if some of the shorter tracks have a “blink and you’ll miss it” approach. ‘Sink The Ships’ is arranged like a sea shanty, complete with disorientating, queasy qualities and a similarly wonky ‘Englishness’ is propelled by steady percussion, chimes and a growing sense of unease. Futhermore, hypnotic instrumental ‘5,000 Miles Away’ is beautifully despairing whilst the last hurrah, ‘Death Of A  Man (Part III)’, seems to collapse in a state of resignation after making itself heard amongst howls of feedback.

On an album characterised as much by brief sonic experiments as much as actual songs, there’s real skill here in keeping the creepiness at a consistently high level and ensuring the sonic themes segue into each other. So much so you’d be forgiven for believing the album had been imagined and then produced in the world’s most evil Victorian toy shop.

Web Sites:
The Last King Of England Bandcamp
Saint Marie Records Label Site

Further Listening:
Piano Magic, Carta, Windsor For The Derby