Royal Foundry finds hope amid darkness
A common theme of albums being released this year is finding hope in the darkness, no doubt inspired by the COVID-19 lockdowns artists found themselves in when they began recording music two years ago. The Royal Foundry's latest, Little High Little Low, confronts many of those dire feelings from the pandemic, finding catharsis in the sorrow.
Edmonton's Beth Schumacher and Jared Salte have been achieving success and exposure with their radio-friendly alt-pop sound since forming in 2013, culminating in Little High Little Low, officially released Friday. The initial writing of the album took place in Nashville where the duo was grounded when the pandemic took hold, lending a darker streak to their songs.
In a news release, Salte says they wrote the rest of the album after returning home to Canada, finding “hope in the air” that solidified the album's concept of examining the highs and lows they experienced through the past couple of years.
While Little High Little Low sounds like it belongs to the band, new tones and colours are explored, resulting in a richer, more rewarding listen.
The duo's folk beginnings peek through this set of 11 songs, revealing strumming acoustic guitars and gentle drums that eventually give way to soaring choruses boosted by studio trickery. Consider it “stomp, clap, hey” music for the Tiktok set.
The album works best when the music is stringent and frugal rather than being buried under layers of synths and multi-tracked vocals.
The first single, Listen to the Beat, is driven by a thrumming guitar lick and lyrics about never compromising. Hello Dreamer Baby shines bright in the tracklist with its buoyant soundtrack, complete with a schoolyard chant about running and not looking back. The title track could be one of the best songs The Royal Foundry has ever recorded as it sways and bounces with more hooks than a tackle shop.
The Royal Foundry's Little High Little Low is available on all your favourite streaming platforms. You can also catch them performing at this year's Taste of Edmonton on July 23.
THE GODDAMSELS — WAYWARD DAUGHTER
The Goddamsels' debut project, an EP titled Wayward Daughter, is the product of Alberta-based singer-songwriters Mallory Chipman and Frédrique “Freddi” Macdougall. A fresh take on country music, their synergy beams from these songs, their talents complementing each other on each of the six tracks.
The duo first connected in 2015 while singing cover songs at Edmonton's Blue Chair Cafe and a partnership was solidified in 2020. Chipman and Macdougall were able to work on tracks remotely, eventually recording most of the EP in a three-day session with producer Scott Franchuk in the summer of 2021.
Special care was taken to enable the two lead vocalists the room to show off their chops while also supplementing each other's skills.
What will strike the listener is their glorious harmonies, their vocals entwining and creating a gorgeous honey-dipped sound. The music leans on folk and traditional country with pop sensibilities sprinkled throughout.
The first taste of the project is the title track, which lays out an empowering message of sisterhood. Sorry has strong The Chicks vibes with its rocking backing track and towering chorus about humility.
Dark depths of the soul are explored on Take Care, scored by weeping lap steel guitar and the promise of light on the horizon. Farewell song See You Next Time offers up a temporary goodbye, which the listener can interpret as the promise of more to come.
Wayward Daughter is an intoxicating introduction to The Goddamsels' rootsy storytelling.
The Goddamsels' Wayward Daughter EP was released Friday.