New Fries/Mother Tongues
New Fries
Is The Idea Of Us // Telephone Explosion
With a simple repeated ticking. New Fries begin their latest album Is The Idea Of Us. A familiar anxiety sets in as the tick, its accompanying beat and bass line push forth in repetition. A synthy siren oscillates over top of it all. Vocalist Anni Araujo Spadafora interjects seamingly as they please. The tail of their voice warping with the harsh end to each line. Elevating the tension to a pulp till the track collapses on itself. It’s this tension that sets the tone of the album from this point on.
Is The Idea Of Us takes its form as a six song album that plays interspersed between a collection of experimental tracks titled “Genre” and its corresponding number of where it’s placed within the album. Some form as collections of crescendoing tones, chunks and pieces of less realized songs (“Genre V”, my favourite of the bunch) and opposing synths oscillating against one another. These tracks provide the listener a break and a new sense before delving into the more (loosely) structured tracks. While some of these songs come across as less significant than others, each evoke their own feelings and build on the concept of repetition. A recurring theme throughout the album.
Four years removed from their previous release, Is The Idea Of Us marks New Fries first effort since parting with their former synth player. This transition allowed New Fries to rethink their music and come forth with an effort that is much more minimalistic, and less synth forward (but not synth-less) than New Fries past. Many of the tracks build upon a repeated groove between the bass and beats, while the vocals push the track along allowing all other parts to flow freely in an improvised-like quality. It’s that groove shaped by the beats and bass that provide a familiarity comparable to past New Fries releases, but much of this album shows New Fries in a new light. With a more minimalistic approach, many of the songs don’t climax to the frantic and chaotic highs known from New Fries. Even the guitar work takes a much more subtle approach favouring staccatoed plucks to dissonant chord wailing. This fact makes those few moments of pungent guitar so much more powerful like the single note guitar solo that pushes “L’express” to its conclusion, or the zippy line that splits each verse in “Ploce.”
While some may feel a certain chaoticism is missing from this album, the more subtle approach displays New Fries ability to maintain an experimental attitude that never loses its tension without the frills provided by intricate synth work and grandeur. For a band as “far out” as New Fries with their total discontent towards structure, Is The Idea Of Us is still very digestible. You’ll find yourself walking to the groove from “Lily” as it spins through your thoughts. It’s New Fries’ study of repetition and it’s that repetition that drills these songs into your mind.
- Kennedy Pawluk
Mother Tongues
Everything You Wanted // Buzz Records
Have you ever read a Piers Anthony novel? Especially the Incarnations of Immortality series? Sci-Fi and Fantasy combined to make the most incredible stories that some would say is far fetched....or is it? When I took a listen to the new album titled Everything You Wanted by Mother Tongues, I was taken on wild trip where anything is possible. A peak through the veil into dimensions unseen. Welcome to an ethereal plain you only thought happened in books and movies. No drugs were taken for this experience either. None are needed for this psychedelic journey that we’re about to embark on. This album was made for those who really like to listen and take in the full music experience. Headphones do heighten this experience.
Mother Tongues comes to us from Toronto, Canada and have been making waves on the indie scene for about five years. A mutual love of all things groovy and psychedelic brought them together to make the most electric and mystical experience. They’ve toured Canada and US with notable bands alike and performed at many festivals. How is it I’m only hearing this music now?! I’ll take one please. I do get a little giddy when I find new music I love.
The first track “Eternity” came with a wild video. Viewing it felt like the rebirth of an ancient civilization. Pivoting pyramids, statues of mythical creatures and like something very important is about to happen.... is this that glimpse into the other dimension I was talking about? Like all is about to be revealed? I really enjoyed the visuals, as for the song itself, it starts off the album with a slow jazz percussions and melodic guitar. There’s a gradual building, that brings in the dreamy hypnotizing vocals. The song flows of psychedelic waves so ride the waves! Go with the flow of it. I got swept up in the tide by the fullness of the song and it left me levitating. Unbelievable! That was only the first song....
“Let you Down” is an upbeat 60’s psych/pop trip. I instantly fell in love with the tantalizing keyboards. They have a Doors flavour that I dig. Felt like a flashback. This one was an ear worm in the best way. I caught myself singing it constantly through out my week. “Fortunes” is far more sensual. The beginning of the song had me saying Oooooh Yeeeeaaaah like Barry White. Full of rimshots and sexy guitar. I loved the vocal effects. “I’m just trying to get by”, my favourite lyric from this song. Something I believe we’re all just trying to do. Then some swooning guitars come in sweep me away for a ride, and a powerful play with long drawn out notes and bends are really sexy like Payola’s “Eyes Of A Stranger”. Very hot!
I keep coming back to this album with a need to hear it again and again. I know I have an addiction to music. An addiction to the way it makes me feels. I have conquered many addictions in my life but this one is a good one. Everything You Wanted by Mother Tongues is a feeling of sweet release and I feel lighter somehow from listening to it.... enlightened.
Now go experience it for yourself.
May the force be with you.
Love Always,
Green Noreen
