Beginning Jan. 7, the United States will require a passport for anyone wishing to cross the Canadian-American border, impeding many of our favorite Canadian imports.
Fortunately for music fans seeking a little attention from our northern neighbors before these border regulations take effect, folk-rock outfit Canada will make an official stop this Saturday at Madison's Café Montmarte. The show is part of their U.S. tour in support of their Quite Scientific Records debut This Cursed House.
Although Canada is their namesake, this seven-piece ensemble actually calls Ann Arbor, Mich., home. Formed in 2004, Canada looks to the north's peaceful scenery for inspiration, which is clearly evident on this mellow, nostalgic album.
Also drawing on the eclectic sounds of mellow pop-rockers the Decemberists and the orchestral grandeur of fellow Michigander Sufjan Stevens, Canada's This Cursed House is an album that fully expresses the artists' musicianship and lyricism.
Canada passes a true test of musicianship by successfully incorporating many obscure instruments on the album. Even though most people have no idea what a flugelhorn is, troupe member Aaron Saul boldly intertwines it with simplistic piano and xylophone melodies on the track "Esther." The zither and glockenspiel also make their respective appearances on the tracks "Hexenhaus" and "Hey Garland."
In addition to their alternative-instrument abilities, Canada's members demonstrate their instrumental prowess on a multitude of traditional instruments as well. By combining their skills with obscure and familiar sounds, Canada's members create an album with the air of comfort and nostalgia often associated with the northern country. Providing a different mood with varied tempos and fingering patterns, the initial guitar work, layered over the bass and cello, sets an ominous tone for the track "As Dry As Bone," later switching to a lighter, mellowed tone that perfectly underscores the somber lyrics.
As evidenced by their use of unusual instruments, Canada and its members are no strangers to musical innovation. Rather than entering a professional studio to record This Cursed House, the artsy septet mixed its album on a true piece of Hollywood history — the soundboard used for the second and third installments of the Star Wars franchise. Fortunately, Canada's choice to forego a professional studio paid off. This piece of cinematic history results in slightly muted vocals and intertwined instrumental parts that lend to the rustic, earthy sound of this album.
Canada's incorporation of fundamentally instrumental tracks on the album, which adds to its rustic mood, especially showcases their knowledge and expertise in creating and performing instrumentally. The opening number, fittingly titled "Printemps" ("spring"), features a delicate percussive line intermingled with the chirping of crickets, replicating the peace and serenity of springtime. The swelling violins and slurring bass and cello featured on the number "Voorhies" make this track in to a contemporary sonata. And with its soothing, repetitive guitar work and whispering chorus, the album's finishing track "Automne" is the perfect song for a midnight drive or a little stargazing.
While Canada demonstrates expert musicianship, this troupe also demonstrates great vocal ability with simple narrations and developed harmonies. Taking cues from other contemporary artists, like Sufjan Stevens and Montreal's the Arcade Fire, Canada incorporates numerous complex harmonies throughout This Cursed House. These artsy rockers, however, take these intricate harmonies one step further than other renowned artists. On the track "Look to the Trees," Canada complicates the already challenging harmonies by layering vocals, transitioning from one complex harmony to another. In addition to these harmonies, Canada's incorporation of a hushed chorus into somber tunes lends to the ambient, homey feel of their debut album.
These vocals, however, would be impossible without Canada's emotion-packed lyrics. On the track "Record Function," Canada uses the lyric "All blankets to the floor" to transition from a subdued tune into a grooving, pulsing track. Canada's use of lyrics in expressing human experience is also driven home on the track "Madisonville, KY." On this song, the line "And he was gone" addresses the concept of death, while the repetition of "home" recalls the memories of childhood.
With their innovation and musical ability, it's surprising that art-rockers Canada have not yet gained popularity. True, most artists do not use a typewriter or pots and pans in their music, but these are just a few areas that separate Canada from their contemporaries. Of course, it's this flair that makes Canada a must-see act. Be sure to catch this eclectic troupe with Dear August and Heller Mason Saturday at Café Montmarte. The show starts at 9 p.m., and the cover is $5.
Grade: 4 out of 5
