Notion Free
Ever Ending Kicks
8-out-of-10
I remember the first time my mother showed me The Zombies. I instantly fell in love with the laid back, easy listening vibe mixed with intricate pop melodies. Ever Ending Kicks combines the classic pop melodies like that of The Zombies with the acoustic lounge pop perfected by Kings of Convenience on this debut, Notion Free.
Shuffling along at a steady pace, Notion Free is a collection of acoustic songs that bare bosa nova beats and simple, pleasant melodies. Relying heavily on the catchy drums and riveting bass lines to flesh out the down tempo tunes, the acoustic guitar lazily strums jazz chords while the soft vocals follow spiraling melodies with nonchalance.
Along with beautiful music, the album is also lyrically pleasing. The words blend extremely well with some of the unusual pacing and never fall into awkward timing. Poetic and adhering to composition, the lyrics really tie together the entire package here. I think it would be a shame for an album with such superb instrumentation to fall short in this department like many others do.
Notion Free is a simple, romantic sounding album that really shines with pop references and is a respectful nod to the lounge singer. It's definitely a good choice for a late night, when the party turns to a hush but the wine isn't ready to be corked.
--SEAN CRAIB-PETKAU
Bell Choir Coast
Sydney Wayser
10-out-of-10
The excitement of finding an extraordinary album will surely never get old. My latest prized find is Bell Choir Coast by New York's Sydney Wayser.
Mixing a few of my favorite things in a contemporary, light, soulful way is what really cemented my new admiration for this artist. She sings like Feist and uses a seemingly unending list of instruments to bring these great pop songs to life, what's not to love?
Bell Choir Coast is as experimental as is it conventional. A deep sea of layered instruments take turns revealing brilliant melodies or simple runs that stand out, complimenting each other entirely. The songs vary between scarce acoustic pieces to intricate, expanding, and full explorations in sound. The arrangements of the songs are also interesting, following unusual and fresh forms. With a number of mid and up tempo songs, Bell Choir Coast glides along effortlessly and entertaining. Each track offers a new twist and turn and new sounds to enjoy, whether that be a combination of synthesizers or bells and jars used as percussion.
In trying to list a few stand out tracks I pretty much selected the entire album, but to boil it down the most original tracks had to be "Dream it Up", "Wolf Eyes", "Geographer", and "Call Me Up". The crooning and slow moving "Time Frame" is also a beautiful track, slowing down the record and offering a raw and real glance at this woman's incredible vocal talents.
Bell Choir Coast has definitely squeaked its way onto my best of 2012 list with only a few days left in the year. What an outstanding find!
--SEAN CRAIB-PETKAU
