ALL ABOUT ALLIUMS
Make gardens glorious
Canadian “electro-funkees” Chromeo have delved into a lot of different styles over the course of the duo’s studio albums, almost always with a healthy dose of tongue-incheek lyricism.
With its latest EP, David (Dave 1) Macklovitch and Patrick (P-thugg) Gemayel have targeted their electro disco funk directly at COVID-19. While many artists have decided to get deep and dismayed at the present reality, this crew has dropped the closest thing to a musical cure for what ails us.
Even if you have to crank up Cabin Fever in, well, your cabin, the two have nailed it with this fivesong/five-instrumental release of their Corona Jams. Weird times often result in great art. While that might be a stretch to describe Quarantine Casanova, it certainly is the right sound at the right time.
Here are five things to know about the EP.
1. Clorox Wipe. Some write songs about being an object of desire’s angel baby, or space cowboy or bad boy. Not Chromeo. They figure that the thing to be to be wanted by the partner of their dreams is to be a Clorox wipe. I would have a purpose/i’ll be at your service/ Let me wipe your surface/cause that don’t make me nervous ... I’m not trying to be your man/i’m just your disinfectant. There is linguistic genius at work here, right along the hilarious mid-’80s synth-pop arrangement.
2. 6 Feet Away. Honestly, aren’t you surprised nobody has written a tender love song about loving “from six feet away?” It’s ridiculous and when the song mentions leaving flowers and chocolate (that the neighbour steals) at the door — classic. While the music can be formulaic, the bass in this one is crazy funky.
3. ‘Roni Got Me Stressed Out.
Yes, it’s ridiculous. But the topics touched upon in this insanely hooky song aren’t that far away from what’s really going on with so many people. The plea to get some help and take care of your mental health may be delivered in a lighthearted way, but doesn’t take away from the seriousness of the subject matter. And if that gets people sharing and talking about their stress, all the better.
4. Cabin Fever. Kicking it old school with slap bass, electric piano and jazzy snare and hi-hat grooves, this song stands out from the others by being more neo-soul than dance tracks. Declaring two months is too long to be stuck in a room right before the laid-back keyboard solo, it appears that some CBD is keeping the tempo cool. Also, the line about talking to Siri but she won’t talk back is pretty spot on. Anyone else changing the accent setting to make it like there are a variety of different people answering your inane questions about takeout orders?
5. Instrumentals. The music is well done and having instrumental versions of all the songs means you can cut loose with your own lyrics for home-based karaoke challenges or the like. You can really appreciate how tight the orchestration is on ‘Roni Got Me Stressed Out without the lyrics.
ALSO OUT THIS WEEK: Emily Best A Storm Came Through Emily Best Music
This lovely collection of jazzy, orchestral folk/pop from Vancouver-based songwriter Emily Best ranges from the melodic and moody opener Bridges and Cars to the bluesy Freight Train and classic rock-leaning title track. With its star-studded cast of backing musicians such as guitarist/composer Tony Wilson, Paul Rigby (Neko Case), Stephen Lyons (Fond of Tigers) and Joshua Zubot (Patrick Watson), there is never a note out of place. Lush and soulful, this is an artist who could be as comfortable on a folk festival stage as at a jazz gig.
JJ Wilde Ruthless | Black BOX/BMG
With her single The Rush making history as the first song from a female artist to hit #1 on all three Canadian rock charts and holding the spot for three weeks, rocker Wilde is on her way. Her album is loud with the kind of big, familiar hooks that were called alt-rock in the olden days. Favouring stripped-down blues structures with big ooh-oohooh choruses and handclaps, songs such as Wired, Home and Knees are amped-up rockers. She can get more ethereal on songs such as Gave It All or the piano ballad Funeral For A Lover, which proves a vocal range other than howl.
Noble Son Life Isn’t Fun | Nobleson.ca
This nine-track release is, at times, as odd as the apparent cover photo which shows the artist in long underwear, reading a newspaper, smoking and sipping coffee on a dining chair in the middle of a park, or something. In other words, it’s a bit odd. But the chorus that kicks in on the opener Sleepin’ is as good an example of classic Laurel Canyon-era country pop as you’ll hear this year. Songs such as Love Love Love and Sad, Dumb, Lovesick Young Kid sound like exactly what the titles proclaim with a somewhat disarming honesty, while Ruin My Life is an odd bit of aspirational balladry hoping someone as yet unmet will come to do exactly what the title requests. A really unique voice and some great production make this well worth searching out.
Zoon Bleached Waves Paper Bag Records
Daniel Monkman grew up on the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation and lived through the misery of racist abuse, poverty and addiction before turning to making the music he calls “moccasin gaze.” The tag fits, too. Anyone who loves My Bloody Valentine’s brand of swooshing noise married to big melodic passages will pick up on Vibrant Colours right away, while the title track ventures into the sort of shimmering psychedelia that the Stone Roses could lay down. Monkman’s breathy alto can sound so transcendental, you’ll want to space out with him guiding you in songs such as Light Prism.