It is tempting to treat the three songs that precede Here Comes Everybody, the title track of the new EP by Canadian cult rock quartet Royal Ottawa as the opening acts before the main event. That would be unfair though. While it takes up one side of the 45rpm EP, giving the band plenty of opportunity for improvisation, before settling for a loose jam that could have gone on even longer, the other three are showcases for superb pop songs wherein college rock, a bit of country, the carefully crafted pathos of bands like Echo & the Bunnymen, the melodicism of the Paisley underground and neo-psychedelic musings are put to good use.
Lesser musicians would be out of their depth to cross the boundaries of genres and create a sound that stands out as something very special indeed. Royal Ottawa have found a safe space for their creativity and constructed a maze of musical reference for listeners to wander around in taking notes and trying to keep up, before giving in and enjoy it as a journey that ends way too soon.
Royal Ottawa:
Philip Hogarth: vocals, guitar, keyboards
Alan Polack: guitar, vocals
Michael Griffin: bass
D'Arcy Walsh: drums
Here Comes Everybody is released via The Beautiful Music (vinyl, digital).
Tracks:- Golden Eyes
- Pine
- Range Road
- Here Comes Everybody
No comments:
Post a Comment