Avant-pop musician Renny Wilson is a go-to producer and collaborator in Edmontons thriving indie scene, though he currently lives in Montreal, and this album compiles previously unreleased newer songs and others written over the last seven years. Demented might describe it. With its helium-voiced singing, scratchy lo-fi production, obnoxious tones set to bold, fast garage punk, it sounds like the Munchkins from The Wizard Of Oz made a DIY noise-core record.
Wilson eases us in with innocuous cardigan-pop song Youngsters before doing a 180 on Stiffed (where the child-like singing starts) and never looking back. A few of the 12 songs are friendly and catchy, like standout Radio Receiver or the almost twee Clean, with female vocals (the live band includes three other members) taking over the lead from Wilson. More often, the tracks are abrasively bracing and weird, evoking a garageier X or the Germs. Escaping Alive is all its own, as if sung by a psychotic, upbeat childrens choir in a warped musical.
The shifting styles undermine any sense of cohesion but lend terrific dont-give-a-fuckness. There are plenty of LOL moments, too, especially the closing cover of Foreigners Juke Box Hero. Youll barely recognize it, which is for the best.
Top track: Radio Receiver
