Weekly Release Spotlight: Land of Talk
Posted on 10/05/2008
Land of Talk
Some Are Lakes
[Saddle Creek]
Attitude is everything when on stage. Tremble too soft and you're seen as weak and fragile (not to mention dull), when the viewer yearns for an image to aspire to, to look up to. Feign an ego and anger and soon your act becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy with little for the audience to humanly connect with. Montreal's Land of Talk, who create a deliberately frayed and rugged sense of showmanship both in concert and on record, toe the line between caution and confidence so genuinely on their second release Some Are Lakes that they come off as veterans rather than freshmen.
Producer Justin Vernon (aka Bon Iver) solidifies the raw mock-live sound of their stormy debut Applause Cheer Boo Hiss on the follow-up, but also tweaks everything in its right direction. Vocalist Elizabeth Powell's sneering murmur (usually followed by a rip-roaring release) is rightfully more pronounced, the ramshackle distorted guitars punch even swifter, and the emotional climaxes of every chorus and outro result in an inexplicable and intimate musical high -- the kind that only happen on accident at a small dingy venue at 1 a.m. on a Monday. Yet another indication of Land of Talk's impressive acceleration toward expert status as rock musicians, Powell achieves this sweeping affectation with only two other band mates.
Even more surprising given the trio's emotional jolt is the lack of breakneck tempos or multi-tracked stampedes of elephantine proportions. Instead, Vernon lets moderately paced numbers like title track "Some Are Lakes" and "Young Bridge" rise to heavenly levels that are equal parts damp noise and solemn swell. Probably the most impressive feat that is pulled off, however, is when the band is stripped down (halfway point "It's Okay" and closer "Troubled") without steeping in frailty. Here they sound just as strong and spry as their faster and poppier counterparts, with an even more congealed helping of heart, still balancing that with assuredness without outwardly striving for it. After all, they're just playing a gig.
Stream: Land of Talk - Corner Phone
Land of Talk will be playing at the First Avenue Mainroom on October 13th with Broken Social Scene.
Written by Chris Polley, Radio K volunteer and host of Now Like Photographs.