Foolish Blood
Charlottetown, PE
(Bumstead Recordings)
“Jangly melodies and plush fair-weather chorus-driven indie pop”
The right producer can be a transformative influence, teasing out the cohesive and singular sound a band has struggled to realize. When Canada’s Two Hours Traffic met Darryl Neudorf (Neko Case and the New Pornographers) they meshed immediately and delivered a polished and clean production that’s jangly and spotlights the acoustic textures, bubbly rhythms and singer Liam Corcoran’s confident and definitive tone – think Stephen Malkmus’ crisp, youthful charisma.
“I Don’t Want 2 Want U” is not as juvenile as the title suggests; rhythms are supported with percussive claps, surf-guitar solos and coupled male vocal harmony gives the song an authentic summery gallop.
The band hits their stride on the upbeat cruiser, “Ready for a Look,” with Corcoran bantering, “You must have fallen off the screen / You’re really knocking me out / You could be stealing every scene / Why are you moping about?” The gem buoyantly rises via rumbling percussion and a fervent, dirtied electric guitar wash, a perfect complement to a long coastal drive.
Obvious comparisons are drawn to the Shins and the Long Winters, where radio-friendly verse/chorus structures intermingle with ambling harmonies, splendid lovelorn lyrics and rhythmic nuances fostering a cohesive, uplifting pop release.
Produced & Engineered Darryl Neudorf
Recorded and Mixed at Operation Northwoods, Mono, Ontario, Canada
Mastered by Joao Carvalho
www.twohourstraffic.com