Marking a decade since the release of the first Woodpigeon album, the Calgary indie-folk collective led by Mark Andrew Hamilton have unleashed T R O U B L E, their first work since 2013. The album is a contemporary collection of songs that provides fresh listening for those familiar with Woodpigeon and a welcome new take on the over-saturated indie-folk genre for those who aren't.
The album features a variety of tasteful and restrained instrumentation. Great moments on the record coincide with sparse percussion and unconventional rhythms balanced by swooning synth or trumpets, as heard on "The Falling Tide." The tracks here are dominantly downtempo, but the occasional track such as "Canada" picks it up at just the right time. It can't be stressed enough that this album is about rhythms, and those guilty of desk-drumming will relish the variety.
An experimentalist in folk himself, producer Sandro Perri injects just enough of his personality in T R O U B L E's production to differentiate this from previous Woodpigeon works. Perri and Hamilton were careful to leave plenty of space throughout and as a result, the music breathes, never feeling overwhelming or busy. Plus, the attentive listener will detect ethereal sounds that are truly peculiar.
Ultimately, it isn't the lyrics that stand out but Hamilton's deliberate endeavour to craft intricate compositions that hold the attention of the listener. T R O U B L E is worthy of a second listen, and not only to pick up on the subtleties you missed the first time.
(Boompa)The album features a variety of tasteful and restrained instrumentation. Great moments on the record coincide with sparse percussion and unconventional rhythms balanced by swooning synth or trumpets, as heard on "The Falling Tide." The tracks here are dominantly downtempo, but the occasional track such as "Canada" picks it up at just the right time. It can't be stressed enough that this album is about rhythms, and those guilty of desk-drumming will relish the variety.
An experimentalist in folk himself, producer Sandro Perri injects just enough of his personality in T R O U B L E's production to differentiate this from previous Woodpigeon works. Perri and Hamilton were careful to leave plenty of space throughout and as a result, the music breathes, never feeling overwhelming or busy. Plus, the attentive listener will detect ethereal sounds that are truly peculiar.
Ultimately, it isn't the lyrics that stand out but Hamilton's deliberate endeavour to craft intricate compositions that hold the attention of the listener. T R O U B L E is worthy of a second listen, and not only to pick up on the subtleties you missed the first time.