Vancouver singer/songwriter Adrian Teacher used to be in the terrific Apollo Ghosts, and his first solo EP shows as much promise as that earlier Polaris Prize-nominated project.
Recorded by Calvin Johnson of Beat Happening and K Records fame, the five-song EP has the sort of light-jacket coziness and intimacy that distinguishes many 90s-era K Records bands. It’s gentle with soft edges, unthreatening and unassuming, like the boy who eats Fuzzy Peaches at rock shows.
Teacher has some familiar Jonathan Richman moments (as did Johnson in Beat Happening) when delivering his wistful, playful lyrics, and the two final songs employ that warped surf-guitar sound we’ve been hearing too much of lately. (Thanks, Mac DeMarco.)
But strong melodies are plentiful: Old Graffiti, a duet with Julie Doiron, adds some welcome sophistication, and When Did I Get Older? opens up into Beach Boyesque layered-vocal loveliness.
Top track: Old Graffiti
Adrian Teacher plays Burdock on Wednesday (July 15).
