nêhiyawak/Walrus
nêhiyawak
nipiy // Arts & Crafts (Out October 24th)
The debut LP from nêhiyawak is one of the most fascinating, engaging, and stunning releases of 2019; it just oozes personality, from Matthew Cardinal’s ethereal synthesizers, to Marek Tyler’s traditional carved cedar log drums, to Kris Harper’s singular storytelling.
nipiy is ostensibly all about water, and it begins and ends with instrumental pieces about kisiskâciwanisîpiy (the North Saskatchewan River). These two songs serve as in-depth explorations of the way that the band uses musical space throughout the rest of the record, from the swirling and constantly shifting “page” to the unforgiving pulse of “perch”. No small part of the strength of this release is how there’s room for these songs to bloom and develop over their repetitions; your ear has time to pull in every texture and give it meaning before having to move along to the next thing.
Not to say that there is anything on this album that I would call repetitive. The songwriting is about as creative and varied as it gets, with an ear for compelling melodies and a great sense of internal logic to the song structures. nêhiyawak is drawing on their seemingly endless musical repertoire throughout the tracklisting, with flashes of everything from contemporary post-punk, drone, and pop to some particularly evocative 12-string guitar and vocal harmonies on “somnambulist”. nipiy is the best showcase to date of the band’s miles-deep understanding of great records, and is one of the most unique, and indeed great, records of 2019.
- Sean Newton
Walrus
Cool To Who // Outside Music
Two brothers plus two pals equals Walrus. With the release of their second album Cool To Who via Outside Music, these Nova Scotian groovesters have already made some well-known connections. Chad VanGaalen directed the animated video for their new single “Half-Smoke”, a track that visually highlights the more psychedelic elements of their sound. This humble quartet with a versatile sound previously toured with The Sadies and are currently playing shows with Diet Cig, Thrush Hermit, and Wintersleep proving themselves as contenders in the Canadian art scene.
Cool To Who is a garage psych-pop album with heavy 60s British invasion vibes. Most of the tracks have catchy upbeat melodies that will make you want to do the Mashed Potato, but the album starts out with a sedate pace with “Breathe”, a slow-dancing gem with guitar that drips like honey. Stand out tracks “Out For A While” and “Marcel” match nostalgic chord progressions with contemporary, wobbly, baritone allure. “Cool to Who” and “Played Out” best capture the juxtaposed sharp, but hazy essence that makes Walrus interesting.
Walrus are notorious for their spirited live shows, hard-working tour ethic, and for getting banned from Avis Rental Car for racking up over 18,000 kms on a rented vehicle while on a three-week tour. With proof they can reach the end destination despite challenges along the way, Walrus is a band that reminds us it’s all about the journey. Additional props to their album cover art.
- Nicola Gunter
