Quick Hitters:: Pastoralia

To be honest, I have no idea what to say about the new Mitch Wiebe, Ray Fenwick, Rebecca Young project, Pastoralia. On first listen the songs are visceral, but they have a depth that you only stumble onto the more times the tracks repeat. The trio plays engaging albeit somewhat bizarre, organic electro pop, but I get the impression the method is as important as the madness. It's more than three friends tinkering with programming, bass and guitar throwing silly vocals over top of the mix. These songs have a heartbeat, and considering how cold the medium usually is, the 5-songs have a soul that burns warmly.

Right now the tracks are only in demo form, and honestly, I am surprised by how easily I’ve soaked them in. If you told me I’d be singing, “I’m through with after school specials” to myself over and over again, I would have suggested you switch to coffee before driving home, but the electro tapestries Pastoralia build are inviting and intricate, but also forceful when they need to be (the outro to the addictive Fuschia of Architecture (demo) could turn any indie dance night into a sweaty meld of swirling limbs). Wiebe’s vocals might seem a bit quizzical on first pass, but they hug the melodies like a close friend, moving perfectly in step, around or over depending on what space is available. Basically, I would simply ask you give these songs a chance. You will be shocked what they blossom into.

MP3:: Pastoralia - Fuschia of Architecture (demo)
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/pastoraliaband

Labels: Halifax, Music, pastoralia, Quick Hitters