The Weather Station: Atlantic
There are assertive jazz and pop strains at work here, along with mesmerising vocals.
By Kerry Doole
The Weather Station - Atlantic ( Next Door Records): The Weather Station is the project of Toronto singer/songwriter Tamara Lindeman, an adventurous folk-accented artist whose work has received international acclaim.
Her next album, Ignorance, comes out on February 5 on Next Door Records. Two early singles, Tried To Tell You and Robber, have drawn glowing reviews from the likes of Pitchfork, Paste, and The New York Times.
Expect more praise for her new track and video, Atlantic. The track reaffirms that Lindeman has moved a long way from the restrained folk of early releases. There are assertive jazz and pop strains at work, while her pure voice remains mesmerising.
A vivid video proves a neat complement. In a label press release, Lindeman explains that she was "trying to capture something of the slipping feeling I think we all feel, the feeling of dread, even in beautiful moments, even when you’re a little drunk on a sea cliff watching the sun go down while seabirds fly around you; that slipping feeling is still there, that feeling of dread, of knowing that everything you see is in peril,."
“I feel like I spend half my life working on trying to stay positive. My whole generation does. But if you spend any time at all reading about the climate situation circa now, positivity and lightness are not fully available to you anymore; you have to find new ways to exist and to see, even just to watch the sunset. I tried to make the band just go crazy on this one, and they did. This is one where the music really makes me see the place in my mind; the flute and the guitar chasing each other, wheeling around like birds, the drums cliff like in their straightness; I love the band on this one.”
Ignorance marks Lindeman’s first experience writing on keyboard, not guitar, and her first time building out arrangements before bringing them to a band. It features an impressive crew of musicians, including Kieran Adams (drums, percussion), Ben Whiteley (bass), Philippe Melanson (percussion), Brodie West (saxophone), and Ryan Driver (flute). The band was rounded out by Johnny Spence (keys) and Christine Bougie (guitar); Lindeman played piano, sang, and contributed distorted guitar solos. Montreal producer Marcus Paquin (Arcade Fire) co-produced, with Lindeman, and also mixed the record.
Don't be surprised to find the album on many Top Ten lists a year from now.
The Weather Station will present a full band performance of Ignorance in its entirety on Thursday, Feb. 11. Tickets for the livestream are available here.
Links
Publicity: Ken Beattie, Killbeat
Management: Alastair Burns at Heartstop Music
Booking: Canada - Tom Kemp at The Feldman Agency
