Vancouver
– Elegant Violence Since 1985 (Independent)
With one of the more intriguing album titles we’ve
come across this year, Vancouver (aka singer-songwriter Chris Adams) had
managed to pique our curiosity before we’ve heard a note. For his second album
(his first, “The Memory Box” is currently competitively priced on Bandcamp),
he’s teamed up with cellist Todd Williams (Guilty Verdict), the latter’s bass
tone coming directly to the fore on the opener “Tri Color Shuffle”, and
combining successfully with Adams’ acoustic guitar and weathered voice, and the
effect, with the songs’ lyrical references to running, hiding and ghostly
silhouettes, is akin to Gothic folk. Surprisingly, following track “Bat Girl”
is much brighter, as is “La Forte”, and both nestle comfortably within the new
folk spectrum. Though neither lacks a certain edgy ambiance.
Williams’ cello provides an instrumental depth that
is sadly missing on many singer-songwriter recordings, and on the final track “Grafted”
he’s particularly effective, entangling the song in a shady, almost menacing motif,
and it ends the record with a flourish. Adams songs remain centre stage
throughout, and he’s an accomplished words man, adept at building both tension
and narrative. Those who take pleasure from the recordings of Bonnie “Prince”
Billy, Bright Eyes and Bon Iver should investigate.
Simon M.
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