Something telling about Language-Arts is that they self-identify as being from East Vancouver, which in Toronto terms is akin to bragging about being from Scarborough. Vancouver is known for being picturesque, alas East Vancouver is anything but. That being said, you can’t throw a Birkenstock in the West End without hitting a Whole-Foods-shopping-bag-toting yuppie. East Vancouver is anything but conformist, and similarly, Language-Arts does not conform to the expectations of any musical genre or to the normative standards of their chosen instruments.
Their stated musical influences range from Beck, to Astor Piazzolla, Hector Villa Lobos, Manu Chao and Stereolab. You can clearly hear the Golden Feeling & Mellow Gold influences from early Beck in the way they spit out their non-sequitur lyrics; the Astor Piazzolla and Hector Villa Lobos influences in the way they take classical instruments to re-create popular music forms; and you can hear the influences of Manu Chao and Stereolab respectively in their unconventional blending of musical genres and in the sometimes electronic whimsicalness. To summarize, Language-Arts creates a hip-hop-jazz-infused sound executed with classical instruments together with what Jeff Geady of these electronic pages has aptly described as “rapid-fire pixie-rap.” I can easily say that Where Were You In the Wild? is the most original album that I digested in 2009.
This duet cum quartet—their credits list only Kristen Cudmore (vocals & guitar) and Gregor Phillips (percussion and other instruments) but they also have rotating members covering the keys and upright bass—has mostly received West Coast media coverage but their previous Toronto shows have made an impression. I was lucky to catch them at Rancho in July of 2008 for a terrific set and they also packed in a show for the MuseBox line-up at NXNE last year, catching the musical ear of the Much Music critic in the audience.
Language-Arts @ Rancho Relaxo on July 5, 2008
Where Were You In the Wild? (2009) is the third release from Language-Arts and it represents some marked growth from their self-titled 2007 release. Don’t get me wrong Language-Arts was still a remarkable album, but it lacked the self-confidence in the instrument choices and musical layering, and therefore ultimately ended up as a bit of an odd über feminine cotton-candy hip-hop album. The four-track Small Run EP a year later showed some remarkable growth in its originality and execution, hinting at a promising album to come. Where Were You In the Wild does not disappoint.
First, a word about the lyrics: I’d frankly be lying if I said I knew what the hell the songs are about. As best as I can gather, “White Socks and Birkenstocks” is taking an initial swipe at yuppies and then a broader swipe at cultural norms, but aside from that song, the remainder of the lyrics in the album are ridiculously enigmatic. That being said, Cudmore and Phillips readily admit that their songs are at times influenced by dreams which goes some way towards explaining the Beck-like stream-of-consciousness lyrics; e.g. “You can have your ice dream in your ignorant igloo.” And, although the lyrics are weird there is no denying that some of the phrasing is inspired; for example check out the phrasing choices in “Boxed In” where the delivery can almost be said to be syncopated in the off-rhythm unpredictability. Cudmore can clearly sing and demonstrates a phenomenal vocal range in the album—check out the initially intensely feminine vocals of “Benson” and the chorus of “White Socks & Birkenstocks” and contrast those sounds with the pure girlish rap vocals in “Grandfather of the Buffalo.”
But it’s really the hybrid hip-hop-classical-instrumentation that sets this band apart. The single-string classical guitar work is prominent on most of the tracks, but is most notable in “White Socks and Birkenstocks,” “Benson,” and “Tuck it In.” The album is also intensely infused with jazz beats in terms of the constrained cymbal-percussion work and the way in which the upright bass sets the mood in tracks like “Boxed In.” This is a band that combines musical genres flawlessly and has a real knack for musical layering.
Language-Arts has put its money on the track bearing the album’s name as its signature piece, but this move is misguided. There is no denying that “Where Were You In the Wild?” has an instant appeal in the child-like chorus and the initial catchy guitar chords, but the real gem of the album is “Boxed In” near the end. The mood is set early by some guitar dominant hip-hop sampling and jazzy upright bass work. The lyrics kick in next with some solid female rap together with extremely interesting phrasing choices. Then, mid-way through the piece, they throw in some flamenco guitar work and clapping that is subsequently neatly subdued by heavy bass pedal drum work. In the end, the musical layering in this piece can only be described as inspired.
And there are other tracks that necessitate praise in the versatility of their musical form. “Grandfather of the Buffalo” is a particularly interesting piece. This is a classic throw-back to late 90’s rap background sampling in the vain of Dr. Dre’s, “Still D.R.E.” and Cypress Hill but executed with classical guitar work.
To conclude, I can only say that this album is amazingly interesting in its musical layering and is intensely original in its execution. You’d be a fool to miss the upcoming appearances of Language-Arts in the city (unless of course there is a notable TWM showcase those nights).
You can catch Language-Arts on March 5, 2010 at the Garrison and on March 11, 2010 at Sneaky Dee’s as part of CMW.
Post Script:
Language-Arts @ The Garrison - March 5, 2010
