Frog Eyes, David Ivan Neil, pseudo-antigone, and Caveman & The Banshee
Frog Eyes - The Open Up
Frog Eyes, the iconic art-rock project from Carey Mercer, return with one of the best in their catalog. I hope those out there that have tuned out, thinking their best years are behind them, will listen to this gem. Intricate guitar and bass interplay punctuate these tracks with lush keys softening the mix. Mercer is still my favourite vocalist in Canada, his odd delivery is such a perfect match to the art-rock genre and he’s been doing it for so long that his name has become a descriptor for a specific vocal styling. His lyrics can still be cryptic and tough to decipher like on “Chin Up” where he coo’s: “I head-butted a dying snake, I chased the lead, I choked the rake”. Your guess is as good as mine but that’s a huge part of the appeal of a Frog Eyes album, trying to make something out of Mercer’s musings. This is a start to finish listen with that back half featuring the highlight of the album. “Trash Crab” takes its time, sauntering along and making Mercer’s vocal performance input all the track’s drama, it’s classic Frog Eyes.
David Ivan Neil - I Hope Yer OK
When I list my favourite folk artists in Canada, that list includes some names that have garnered critical acclaim (Jennifer Castle or Myriam Gendron) but right up there with them is David Ivan Neil, a relatively unknown outsider folk musician. He has an uncanny ability to write songs that can make your heart break while also making you laugh and, you know what they say, laughter is the best medicine. His latest record is pure perfection. Jaunty numbers like “Nothing To Do” have playful instrumentation while Neil sings about heartbreak. His wit is on another level as he delivers snarky remarks about breaking up. That wit continues with “Learnin’ To Swim” as he likens having no plan for chasing your dream to simple masterbation. This is another album back-loaded with gems, the final two songs are the ones I’ve got on repeat as “Used To Only Win” is hilariously jarring and “My Only Way” is a positive reaffirmation that builds into the album’s big finish. Easily one of my favourite records of the year so far.
pseudo-antigone - lovers (confusing and messy is what i am here for)
Admittedly, I sort of lost track of the wild, experimental-pop project from Simone A. Medina Polo called pseudo-antigone. She blew into the electro-pop/hyper-pop scene in 2021 with the critically acclaimed album Into the Void of Infinite Sadness. A whole album and EP passed without my knowledge before Medina Polo dropped her third full length, lovers (confusing and messy is what i am here for), at the end of February. The record is sharp and focused. Highly energetic electro-dance-pop music makes up the backdrop for an extremely vulnerable record about all aspects of love. There’s lots to enjoy on this release but “childishness” really stands out and could be one of the best songs in the pseudo-antigone catalogue.
Caveman & The Banshee - Born To Kill
Caveman & The Banshee are a Nanaimo duo composed of Dave Read and Valentina Cardinalli who describe their sound as psychedelic-electro-punk. I’d go a little more descriptive when it comes to their heart-pounding new album, Born To Kill. Massive industrial-meets-techno beats lay the foundation for urgent baselines and fuzzed out synths. Themes of horror permeate throughout the vocals as Cardinalli’s eerie wails jar the listener into flashbacks of a nightmarish acid trip. This shit is bold, it’s wild, it’s original, and it’s highly entertaining.
- Jeff MacCallum