Niall Mutter, The Proper Things, and World's Grasp
Niall Mutter
Pass Me By // Nice Guys / Lighter Than Air
Montreal’s Niall Mutter released an indie dreamscape EP on March 11th via Lighter Than Air / Nice Guys, and it’s called Pass Me By. It exists in a musical universe shared with artists like Mac de Marco and Homeshake, and provides a keenly nostalgic touchstone appeal. There are a number of reasons to be excited about this release, so let me offer a few.
Throughout Pass Me By, the vocal processing is jangly and ambient, and its delivery is floating atop a pool of deep yearning. The listener gets the sense that Mutter is in the beginning stages of carving out a life that he is growing attached to. “It’s about pain and self assessment, and submitting to things being a bit wacky and out of my control,” he notes. This submission is rarely easy for us humans, and the push and pull of grappling with large-scale change echoes through the shimmering pieces like a refrain. In the second single, “Maybe”, a 60s doo-wop number that evokes a combination of Diana Ross and the Beach Boys, Mutter sings “maybe you’ll laugh, maybe you’ll cry, I don’t know why I’m terrified”. This kind of humanity and vulnerability in the lyrics is really what makes Pass Me By shine. We can all relate to “not knowing” why we’re terrified of something, because it’s easier than admitting how much we care about its outcome.
The EP’s lead single, “You”, was immediately well-received upon its release, and it’s clear why. It is a sparsely arranged song, attributed to Mutter’s roots in country music. A string of drum shots and claps announce the introduction, almost as if calling listeners to attention, and a jangly, James Brown-esque guitar riff provides substance to the groove off the bat. These two elements carry the piece throughout, supporting beachy vocal multiples in various octaves and harmonies. The song concludes in a triumphant tapestry of shining, chorused-out guitars.
This EP couldn’t have arrived at a better time. From the moment you press play on “Maybe”, you get dropped into a world that is palatable and smooth; a calculated vibe with an effortless feeling. We can all relate to the uncertainty permeating the five songs in this EP, and as summer approaches, nothing will soundtrack a lazy, hot afternoon better than what Mutter has provided in Pass Me By.
- Sophie Noel
The Proper Things
On The Plus Side // Independent
There are times in your life where you encourage and inspire without any knowledge of doing so. I believe in some way, as musicians, we hope our musical works will do exactly that. For myself and my bandmate, The Proper Things achieved this very thing, and had no knowledge until now. After hearing the band’s debut album, and knowing they hail from the west coast of Newfoundland, it reinforced creating an album was possible!
On The Plus Side is their sophomore album, and it’s a testament to their desire to discover who they are and what their sound is. If you’re ever looking to hear the growth in a band from one album to the next, listen to the debut album, then this one! There is such a beautiful and emotional ebb and flow within On The Plus Side, which is what I absolutely appreciate about albums. The band stepped away from their usual DIY approach and teamed up with producer Phil Churchill, by recording in his studio - The Gingerbread House. It certainly seems as though Phil was instrumental in helping them achieve their vision for the album.
Who are The Proper Things? Well, I’m so glad you asked, because I was just about to tell you about them! Let’s change things up and introduce the rhythm section first, because they are a huge part of the band’s driving force! Duo of Rick Waterman on bass and Craig Caines on drums. I’m hesitant to put this out there, but I swear Craig is influenced by Stewart Copeland. Mark Hoyles, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist, fronts the band with his unique voice stylings. And no, not least, is Mark Smallwood, who absolutely rounds out their sound by filling in the sonic space that only a keyboardist/synth player can.
There are a couple songs I need to highlight, and the first has to be the last - the final track, “Before The Lights”. I’ll be damned if I don’t get lost in this song everytime. For me, it’s the essence of the album’s ebb and flow I mentioned earlier. So many peaks and valleys! “Sail Sail” is one of those songs that makes your lips pucker and your eyes squint, making your face look screwed up, but you're okay with it, because it just feels so good!
Take a moment, discover The Proper Things, and be reminded of the wonderful music our country produces, from east coast to west.
“Headphones. That’s the only way to listen to music. It’s all kinds of different emotions because you get real quiet and comfortable and just listen to it.” ~ Gregg Allman
- Branton Langley
World’s Grasp
Still Livin // Self Released
When I hear the term “one man band”, I usually think of some depressive black metal band with records that sound like they were recorded inside of a dumpster. That is certainly not the case for the vicious crossover thrash project, World’s Grasp! I first heard World’s Grasp a couple years ago, around the same time I found Tommy Woods other band, Rust. I immediately fell in love with the masterful song writing in both projects, and quickly realized that Tommy is an endless pit of kick ass guitar riffs! Guitar isn’t where his talents end though, Tommy is also a talented drummer and a versatile vocalist and a great lyricist!
Worlds Grasp newest album, Still Livin features six songs previously released in 2018 that have been re-recorded for the album, and five brand new songs to dig into! The first five songs are re-vamped tracks, taking already wicked tunes and giving them a huge face-lift as far as production and vocal performance goes. The remake that stuck out to me the most was “Hide And Seek”. The vocals start off in a heavy death metal style, with low growls and high screams, then goes back into raspy rock singing and hardcore barks! The breakdown at the end of this song is the highlight of the record for me! These brand new songs might be the best Canadian crossover I’ve ever heard! “Slimeball” and “Broken Bonez” sound like Rob Zombie joined a hardcore band and I am fully here for it! If “No Pride in Hate” sounds familiar to you, it’s because it’s the 6th reworked track from 2018, originally titled “Your Own Worst Enemy”. My favorite riff of the record falls at the start of “Survival Mind”, it has major old school thrash vibes! Still Livin finishes off on an incredibly strong note with “Ironside”, I love the vocal patterns in this song, and it has a nutty guitar solo at the mid way point!
All together these songs are truly top shelf crossover thrash! Every riff is crushing, solos are used effectively and sparingly, the drums sound crisp, and the vocals are powerful and menacing! The lyrical theme throughout Still Livin seems to be about looking out for yourself, and cutting out toxic and fake people from your life. The lyrics are very relatable and motivating, and I think there’s something for everyone within these 11 songs! In my opinion, this is Tommy’s strongest piece of work yet, and there’s no slowing him down now! If you’ve been sleeping on Worlds Grasp, now is the time to wake up!
- Justin Olson
