The Skeletones Four

Compiling songs he's written over the past five years, psych pop mastermind Andrew Collins presents a remarkable collection of soulful prog that's dizzyingly great. Bred in Guelph, ON, Collins often collaborates with Evan Gordon and has contributed much to the Faceless Lazers, Tacoma Hellfarm Tragedy and Stewart Gunn, among others. A shy but incredibly skilled and gifted musician, Collins recently formed the Skeletones Four, a fantastic new band and outlet for his quirky, mathematically challenging tunes. Despite their off-kilter time signatures, tricky structures and synth-y sheen the songs here are each warm and starkly emotional. "Porcupine Quills" and "Heart for a Heart" are unlikely ballads, with hallmarks of popular standards running through them. Then there's the stylish post-punk intensity of "The Fish Rots from the Head" and the earnest, controlled chaos of "Luck." Sounding like Pink Floyd jamming at Sun Studios, the Skeletones Four are among the most promising new bands in Canada.