Faith Healer - The Hand That Fits The Glove
Mint Records
Released on October 13th, 2023
When you get really lucky, sometimes you stumble upon those rare gems - bands that seem uniquely able to speak directly to you, to pull on deeply personal heartstrings and fascinations. An inexplicable shared intimacy between artist and listener. After accidentally discovering Faith Healer at Sled Island more than five years ago, this rare gem has brought me back again and again with their deeply fascinating sound. After a too-long hiatus since 2017’s exceptional (and Polaris Prize long-listed) Try ;-), Faith Healer returns with The Hand That Fits The Glove, a delightful record that expands their ability to compel and captivate.
On The Hand That Fits The Glove, core duo Jessica Jalbert and Renny Wilson return to reignite their unique alchemy, joined by a cast of supporting band characters who add additional charm and vibrancy. As compared with previous offerings Cosmic Troubles and Try ;-), which, while adventurous, are fairly solidly planted in the psych/indie rock realm, The Hand That Fits The Glove takes on a more experimental flair. A little less four-on-the-floor and a little heavier on the synths, the album builds on Faith Healer’s psychedelic foundations with broader instrumentation and wider stylistic influence.
At least part of it, that thing that makes this band so irresistible, is the inimitable balance they’ve found in being both fully rooted in their own sonic identity and their ability to surprise. The Hand That Fits The Glove sounds exactly like a Faith Healer record, it is catchy and accessible, but it’s also packed with freshness - full of little hidden surprises and twists. The result is these incredible arrangements that are sultry and inviting but also a little sly and devious. At points we get hints of 80’s post-disco dance, such as the certified boogie, “Another Fool,” while tracks like “I’m a Dog” serve up lilting dream pop. Other influences ranging from indie folk to yacht rock to bossa nova sneak their way in. “Stranger” is a cinematic jazz-disco trip that could easily fit the bill as the next Bond opening title sequence. Album Closer “2020” reminds us that Faith Healer hasn’t drifted too far from their psychedelic roots, as sax, strolling bass lines, and bluesy guitar riffs all intermingle to get steamy and weird.
At the centre of it all, Jalbert’s signature dreamy vocals feather their way back and forth between comforting and haunting. The lyrics verge on cryptic but in Jalbert’s unique lilt, backed against Wilson’s arrangements, they still compel and vivify. I can’t explain why a line like “here I am, eating my oats and raspberry jam,” (from the track, “Grind’) should make anyone cry, but regardless, I’m still sitting here with tears on my cheeks. Here again, is that special magic of Faith Healer.
Airy and warm, The Hand That Fits The Glove invites the listener into a friendly intimacy through buttery pop smoothness. It is a buoyant, beautiful record, reminding us that Faith Healer is still one of the most fascinating bands around.
- Chris Lammiman
