Nicker Hill Orchestra review

Nicker Hill Orchestra - If? Or Fades? (Originally posted at www.thesilentballet.com)



Score: 6/10

Ironically, Nicker Hill Orchestra’s “About me” section on everyone’s (now second, curse you, Facebook) favorite social networking website reads as the following: “Where are we today? Somewhere near our future.” A fair statement when you realize that reviewers such as myself are only now catching on about them. Anyway, let’s get descriptive and figure out what this EP is all about.

Well, for a start, NHO are able to produce strong EP’s, with If? Or Fades? clocking in at 25 minutes. However, if you’re looking for a concept record, this probably isn’t the best place to start. The record packs in an uncompromising amount of style, shifting between vocals, math-rock influenced guitar, and Born into Trouble… era twang, essentially, if variety isn’t for you, don’t go for this EP. If you are interested in a band that can, quite clearly, expand and invoke so many styles in 25 minutes, this is definitely one worth checking out. In my opinion, it’s hard to pick one particular stand-out track, these are songs don’t need to be played all at once or in any specific order, they each have their own merits. “May Kiss, Gold Tongue” moves between aforementioned Silver Mt. Zion guitar to a rather perky angular guitar and bass section, finally ending on Kevin Drew styled vocal repetition, all in seven minutes. I’m sure you’ll agree that’s not bad work for their first EP.

My apologies dear reader, it’s 2008 and I’m already suggesting you should reminisce and revisit music from 2007, a particularly tricky task as most now look forward to albums yet to leak before their release date. I can only apologize again, but when it comes to Nicker Hill Orchestra, I suggest you revisit days gone by, after all, you could even pretend it hasn’t been released yet, if that’ll make you feel better.

Element Kuuda review

Element Kuuda - Le Village (originally posted at www.thesilentballet.com)

Score: 6.5/10

Element Kuuda hails from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Now, due to the almost brainwashing effect that phrase has on people, I imagine you’re now more interested in Element Kuuda then if I would have instead said, “Element Kuuda hails from Pontypool, Wales.” This presents a problem; Montreal transmits this idea of it being an ethereal, ineffable, all in all breathtaking home of music. It’s the place where a Godspeed member owns a club, the place where there’s that recording studio (or slum, depends on how you look at it really), it’s even the home of Efrim Menuch’s lovely little beard, plus, let us not forget the alt-rat-pack that resides there, with the likes of Wolf Parade and Arcade Fire often mentioned in the same breath as Montreal. Anyway, you can see the problem here, I’m guilty of it myself, Montreal shoots out musicians people tend to love and until Pontypool (or anywhere else for that matter) picks up the pace, we’re inclined to think everything Montreal produces is great.

Of course, the flip side of this is we are all the more dismissive of an act that doesn’t live up to the geographical hype. If it isn’t as choir-esque, poetic, and all around mystical as the granddaddies of Montreal, we (or at least I, if you’re still in the Montreal-loving-closet) tend to ignore, criticize, and attempt to deflate the poor musician’s ego. This isn’t fair, we don’t judge Pontypool musicians by the standards set by Pontypool, so why judge Montreal folk by their residence? Before we end up unraveling that question, let’s get back to the point of this prose; I am reviewing Element Kuuda, this is what I think of it: it is an enjoyable listen. Now, allow me to expand on this.

Element Kuuda’s EP, Le Village is a five track effort, released by Magnanimous Records in 2007. It is now 2008, you may think that Le Village is now passed its prime; this would be incorrect. The reason I’ve been leaving this review on the side is not simply a matter of laziness. Unlike his Montreal counterparts (I know, I am comparing him after all, whoops), Element Kuuda, or Christian Richer as he’s known by day, does not make winter themed albums. Le Village sounds like a bicycle ride on a spring day; it’s promising, uplifting, and there’s not a Church organ in sight. The first track “Extrait : La Trache” is perhaps not the best choice to either open with or even include on the EP -- imagine Matmos and the lighter (if there is one) side of Svarte Greiner getting together for two and a half minutes -- although this sounds like an interesting mix-up, it doesn’t fit with the rest of the EP, which is much more centered around a Colleen and Mom style use of samples and acoustic instruments.

Le Village is over rather quickly, with its total time running up to around fifteen minutes. If you’re looking for depth in this cold season (if you’re experiencing the cold, that is) then perhaps it isn’t the best record to try out, instead, why not wait till spring, when its fleeting, but interesting composition will suit that season perfectly.

Oh, please don’t hold your breath about an answer to my previous question; it’s very, very unlikely you’ll get one.