An inventively eclectic homegrown release of tasty psychedelia, krautrock and folk by the Calgary songwriter and eccentric animator who uses a huge variety of instruments including his own invented lithophone. It’s hard to pin down Chad’s sound if you’re new to his work, and on this eighth album pick a track at random and you will will be taken to strange and wondrous places. On the out-of-spacey Earth From A Distance it’s a slow vista of monosynth-organ chords, electronic beeps and distant vocals. Plant Music is grown largely from acoustic string instruments, possibly cello or viola. But there are recurring sounds. On opener Spider Milk there are definite echoes of Syd Barrett vocal style in intro. On folkier numbers such as the clanky Samurai Sword, there’s a dash of Jeffrey Lewis or Jonathan Richman. Where Is It All Going? is a soft, gentle folk not a million miles from early Neil Young. Inner Fire is a eerie piece of psych-krautrock, as is Starlight, which might have come out of the early Beta Band canon. And on the the eccentrically wonky melody of Nightmare Scenario, the chorus has a feel of Arcade Fire. Nothing Is Strange is a beautiful number with a variety of oddball sounds, and has a end-of-the-world dark humour, capturing a slow apocalypse inspired by lockdown. But despite the album title, it’s hard to imagine anyone more productive or happier in isolation than Chad VanGaalen, inventor of the revolving drum Barnswallow instrument, or using guitars, old keyboards, flutes, a squeaky clarinet, or, for example, his basement's copper plumbing remade into xylophones for the song Samurai Sword. He is a constant gardener, digging out new sounds and planting his dreams to see what will emerge, blinking in the sunlight. Out on Sub Pop.
New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...
Feel free to recommend more new albums and comment below. You can also use the contact page, or find more on social media: Song Bar Twitter, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube, and Song Bar Instagram. Please subscribe, follow and share.
Song Bar is non-profit and is simply about sharing great music. We don’t do clickbait or advertisements. Please make any donation to help keep the Bar running: