Bell Orchestre - As Seen Through Windows

Bell Orchestre
As Seen Through Windows
(03.2009, Arts & Crafts)
RIYL = Rachel’s, The Arcade Fire, Tortoise

It’s too bad that Montreal’s Bell Orchestre has to drag around the ball-n’-chain of “sharing members with the Arcade Fire.” Now, of course I like the Arcade Fire. Funeral, as everyone should know by now, is one of the best albums to be released this decade. It’s not that. It also isn’t that I can’t see certain Arcade Fire-isms in the Bell Orchestre’s particular brand of instrumental post rock. It’s just that, especially with this new record, As Seen Through Windows, the Bell Orchestre is a fully formed musical entity of its own merits and nuances; merits and nuances that deserve to stand on their own because their because the have the strength to. I am going to have a hard time categorizing the Bell Orchestre, mostly because my musical jargon pretty much amounts to statements like: “Oh, did you here those cool horns beeping at the end of track two and those little squiggly, what do you call them?…Violins?” Yeah I’m not very equipped when it comes to recognizing chord progressions, time signatures and fine instrumental distinctions, which is a shame because it is very apparent that the Bell Orchestre is familiar with all this technical “music” stuff. But, what do they expect of me? Really, it’s not like this is a music blog…ahem. Anywho, categorization, on this their second record, the Bell Orchestre continue to dig out some of the ideas that were present on their quality debut, Recording a Tape the Colour of the Light. They still have that baroque indie rock take on post rock with flourishes of jazz, blues and classical, but this time things just seem to gel more and the melodic bliss just seems more consistent. You also have to respect the group for not falling into the overdramatic power crescendos of their forbearers. There are no apocalyptic overtones, no recorded monologues from street preachers and no moments of intensely depressive string arrangements. On As Seen Through Windows, things are much more imaginative, pulsing with life and a gorge of ideas that continually shines under repeated scrutiny. Bell Orchestre have simply accomplished the difficult task of creating an engaging instrumental album, and one that can’t be easily categorized despite its familiar parts. It’s quite a beautiful thing. So, while I may not be able to term every technical musical motif that comes to pass in the duration of As Seen Through Windows, I am still very much able to sit back, relax and submerge myself in something that I can identify, without any hesitation, as skillfully creative, wholly satisfying music.

-Lil' Thistle

Bell Orchestre on MySpace

Broken Social Scene presents Brendan Canning - Something For All of Us

Broken Social Scene Presents Brendan Canning
Something for All of Us…
Arts & Crafts.
Verdict: Pretty, but not endearing

Don’t get me wrong, I like the record... I just don’t love it. I suppose I may just be a little tired of the dried up Broken Social Scene sound. Or perhaps I am just living in the past and expecting too much out of a BSS co-founder and songwriter. This record is the second in the Broken Social Scene Presents series (the first being the solo album of the other BSS front-man: Kevin Drew). It is decidedly darker than most BSS material and hardly lacks in reverb guitars. Through the shoegaze fuzz Brendan Canning’s voice weakly strains and creates a nice ambiance. There is a psych-folk song in there somewhere and "Chameleon" has some really pretty string selections. The single that was released a while ago is called “Hit The Wall” and it’s ok. But what I want to hear disappears in the thick undergrowth of production. As you sip your ice-water you might me thinking “how can you say ‘what I want to hear’ about a record?” Well, I suppose if you bill yourself as 'Broken Social Scene Presents,' then you are setting yourself up for expectations. So enjoy it for what it is and join me in the I’ll-get-it-if-they-make-it club.

-King Cotton

Kevin Drew - Spirit If...

Broken Social Scene Present: Kevin Drew
Spirit If
(09.2007, Arts & Crafts)
9.0/10

I think the members of Broken Social scene have decided that their solo projects will receive more attention if they slap their old band name on the cover of the albums, thus creating the "Broken Social Scene Presents" label. Kevin Drew's Spirit If... is the first of what is said to be a string of such presented projects. Each member is going solo, (sort of) receiving help in the endeavour from BSS bandmates. Thus making it difficult for you to decide what to name it in your itunes. Kevin Drew was one of the two founders of Broken Social Scene as well as the Arts & Crafts Label. Spirit If... was recorded in a hotel room in Norway. It's indie charmers feel slightly like lullabyes, washing stacked guitars and sounds over you. It's a peaceful album with non-peaceful quirky lyrics. It's laid back and charming. The songs just sort of lackadaisically float out from your speakers and into your ears. It's one of my favorite "new artists" of the year. It's appeal is broad and I doubt that anyone could really be disappointed by the album, maybe not blown away, but never disappointed.

-Sassigrass

Kevin Drew - "TBTF"