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LATEST MUSIC REVIEWSBalacade - Malaise EraAlbum Review by Stephanie CramLISTEN TO : Palm Fête - EyesViolent Future - Street Prowler(PREVIEW TRACK)

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Balacade - Malaise EraAlbum Review by Stephanie CramCJLO

Sometimes an album can trigger a memory of a time in your life, mostly likely because you incessantly listenedto it. Other times, albums can sound familiar upon first listen, bring back a flood of memories even thoughyou've never heard the songs. This is exactly what Balacade's new release Malaise Era offers. When I firstlistened to the album it took back back to the summer of 2004, when Grandaddy's Sumday and Dios' self-titled album were the soundtrack of evenings spent with friends around a campfire.

Balacade is the project of Victoria, B.C. musician Andrew Reynolds, who has been recording folk songs forthe past five years. He has released three albums, and has regularly appeared on compilations of Victoriarecord label Old Life.

The album opens with the electronic folk track “L.A. 3600”, a song which eerily sounds like the Silly Kissers,and is an odd fit with the rest of the album. In no way is it bad, it just doesn't blend well with the other somber,lo-fi songs.

A highlight of Malaise Era is the song “Marigold”. It is obvious that Reynolds wears his musical influences onhis sleeve, since the song heavily draws from Grandaddy's sound. Using group harmonies, a simple electricguitar riff, organ, and the consistent chugging of a shaker, the song is a beautiful track that is unfortunatelymore suited to warm summer nights. The familiar feeling I got when listening to the album once again reared itshead with the last song. The album closes with “Isn't It A Pity”, which is a George Harrison cover from the

13-01-04 12:55 AMCJLO

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1970 release All Things Must Pass. Reynolds uses samples from the original recording, and sings Harrison'slyrics. The song is performed slower than the original, and Reynolds incorporates the sound of an old vinylrecord popping – two elements which give the song a strange, other-worldly sound.

Despite the depressing name, Malaise Era is an excellent lo-fi album worth checking out. Even thoughReynolds draws influence from albums released almost a decade ago, there is a timelessness to Balacade'ssound.

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