Fleece, Island Eyes, and Silver Pools
Fleece
Stunning & Atrocious //Self Released
Winter is drawing near. I already feel the nip in the air in the morning. It’s getting darker earlier now too… I've noticed. Now's the time for fuzzy socks, boots, toques, and Fleece. Stunning and Atrocious is the anticipated third release by this Montreal’s queer quartet. Fleece is described as dreamy, lofi, indie-jazz with a special flavour to savour featuring a couple new players in the band. This makes Stunning & Atrocious the rebirth of Fleece. The new line-up brings forth a new focus. Songs inspired by vulnerabilities, road life, highs and lows, upheaval, and a touch of pandemic for funsies.
“Upside Down” brings a bit of groove and funk to the mix. Delectable rhythms, some fun and flirty lyrics. The horns are a nice added touch. The guitar so super sexy with its wavy vibe and feeling. One you could kinda strut to. It’s an attraction and magnetism that can happen by eye contact alone. You know they do say the eyes are the windows to the soul! We are all energy and likes attract likes most often. Gravitating towards each other like molecules.
“Something Real” has such a relatable title. “I just want to feel something real.” This quest for real is really real you know. When all around us misinformation flies so freely. What do you grasp onto? There is a grey area too. Possibilities are endless really. Why not look at all the angles and make informed choices. What is real to you? Well I’ve deleted Facebook off my phone again for the umpteenth time. I need real connection. I need my real friends who like conversations and phone calls. Walks and talks. You just can’t get the kind of connection you’re craving from social media and the internet. We’re all touch and love deprived now… stupid covid and lockdowns. Anxieties higher. Honestly right now the world feels mad to me. I know I’ve got my crazy but it’s time the world owns their crazy too. We can’t evolve if we don’t come back love.
“Love Song for Haters” has a breezy feel. Its many wonderful tempo changes, rhythms, and all the added jazz elements make for a fun listen. Beautiful vocals along with the lyrical wit were refreshing. They say it wasn't written for the ex maybe just about moving forward from a place of heartache gracefully. “Gone, gone, gone” sung with a sparkle of cheer. It’s good to sometimes reminisce in old memories just don’t stay there. The past is behind you. Your moving forward now. Growth may hurt but staying stagnant is worse.
Overall, Stunning and Atrocious is barefoot and fancy free! Something you drift away with. Throw your inhibitions to the wind and enjoy life a little. Wear that bikini or don’t wear anything at all! It’s a warm listen. One last skinny dip before the summer's through. Then a cozy fire and Fleece.
Love Always,
Green Noreen
Island Eyes
Other Heaven // Self Released
Next up for review, we have the new release from Derek Janzen's Vancouver-based project Island Eyes. Their latest release is Other Heaven and will mark Janzen's third full-length album under the moniker. After relocating to Vancouver in late 2019 after spending nearly ten years in Victoria, Other Heaven marks a new approach to songwriting for Janzen in the form of a more sonically focused direction. A sharp palette of synths, guitars, and drum machines make up the melodically charged tracks that range from 80's post-punk to lo-fi bedroom ballads.
Lyrically, the album covers feelings related to the strangeness of living in a new place, anxieties of growing older and reflecting on youth with the focus of maturity. Despite many of these topics getting buried in a cloud of fantastic imagery, Janzen's marriage of the mundane and the fantastical are omnipresent.
Other Heaven opens with the "Forever." This song comes out of the gates strong, with a solid bassline and a consistent driving beat. It feels fun and light-hearted but has apparent depth and a deep feeling. The vocals feel emotive and connect directly with the listener. The chorus is infectious yet honest, and the pace and rhythm of the track keep your foot tapping throughout.
Janzen's "Night Palace" & "I Thought I Saw You In The Lake" further open Other Heaven. Both have a great interplay between the guitar and synth elements. The two sonic fields give a nice flow and provide the perfect launching for Janzen's unique vocal delivery. The chorus in "Night Palace" lifts the music and provides some pleasant variation. "I Thought I Saw You In The Lake" opts for a more subtle approach to the chorus, but overall it flows well and you get a heavy dose of the dreamy coastal vibe apparent in Janzen's music.
Next up is “Underwater,” one of the singles from this record. This track has a very smooth sound and is a good choice for a music video. The elements of this song fit very well, giving a favourable platform of airy synth sounds and dreamy guitar riffs. There certainly is a wavy feel to it, essential listening for your coastal sunset playlist. The other single is called “Year,” and this tune also draws Other Heaven to a close. It ends the record with a softer, laid-back feel, which acts perfectly as a closer.
Other Heaven takes the listener on a journey, from upbeat dance songs to calmer laid-back material. Lots to dig through. A record to have on repeat.
- Earl D
Silver Pools
Chroma // Money Laundry Recording Club
It all began halfway through the 2010’s – when musician and producer Todd Macdonald formed his solo project, Silver Pools. During the production of his debut album, Silver Pools grew to include visual artist Miranda Crabtree and video director Adrienne McLaren. Their first album, Memoirs Of An Oblong Sphere, was released in 2016 and introduced their surreal style and relaxing sound.
Chroma is their sophomore album, an eight track release that dives deeper into the sound established in their debut. Utilizing layers of acoustic instruments and elements of electronic, Chroma creates a vast soundscape with plenty of room for exploration and interpretation. This is exacerbated by its lyrics, which explore an array of ideas from relationships and mental health, to existential themes such as dreams and mortality.
However, not all the credit can go to this talented trio – the development of Chroma was aided by the guest musicians that appear throughout the album. Music producer Matt Thibideau provided synths for the fourth track, “Crushed Hat”. Tim Adams played the drums for the opening song, “A Kiss For The Summer”, and Andy Vella provided the amazing album cover, which accentuates the sound of Chroma through its familiar yet surreal design.
The experimental nature of Chroma and the abstract, interpretive sound blends coherent songwriting with thought provoking noise – I believe this is best seen in the penultimate track, “Penumbra”, a beautiful song that slows down and uses synths, drums, fx, and an entrancing vocal delivery to form a beautiful sound that you can really get lost in.
In essence, Chroma is the album you need to listen to if you’re into mellow, soft sounds that leave you with room to think. You’ll be doing your soul a favor. Don’t argue with me on this. If you haven’t started listening to it by now, in the wise words of Steve Oedekerk, “I implore you to reconsider”.
- Brandon Kruze
