Rating: NNNN
There’s a ho-hum, tossed-off quality to Jon Mckiel’s vocal delivery that could deceive you into thinking his songs, too, are tossed-off. And while tunes that come early on his new album, Tonka War Cloud, perfect that Atlantic Canadian indie rock balance of pop melodies, guitar sludge and trash can drums (here, with weirdly loud bass) – Fist Fight the best among them – things take a breathtaking turn.
Somewhere just past the midway mark, the Haligonian multi-instrumentalist backs off the distortion pedal in favour of sparse acoustic guitar with touches of orchestral texture, while the lyrics get super-dark and narrative. Violent Hawaii is lyrically and atmospherically stunning, and shows he can go far beyond slacker rock. Holy Ghost, Death Van and Quills follow suit, but each in their own unique way. Come for the fun, stay for the spooky genius.
Top track: Violent Hawaii
