Aqua Alta

The Marquee, Halifax NS, October 25

Photo: Vish Khanna

BY Vish KhannaPublished Oct 28, 2013

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Aqua Alta is a cross-generational enterprise that fans following the history of Halifax's music scene might describe as a supergroup and, in their first live show ever, their sound was something of a surprise. Featuring Jenn Grant on vocals and Charles Austin of the Super Friendz on guitar (with compositional contributions from Graeme Campbell), the band's great pop pedigree is translated into a spacey, introspective style.

Grant and Austin are certainly no strangers to textured ambience in their respective work. They're fans of presenting hooks with edge and tension and in Aqua Alta, this is manifested in the slow burn pace of songs that are lush, melodic, and evenly structured as electro-tinged folk. At the Marquee, in a large band formation, Grant often looked to Austin as an anchor, singing beautifully while keeping close tabs on the swelling sonic stew they've all concocted together.

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