Lifestory:Monologue

I’m a big fan of the EP as a release. While at times plagued by poor song choice, and other times just not long enough for a band to showcase its full potential at a given time, the format usually plays host to aptly arranged tracks that digest well in an appetizer-sized serving.

With Hold Me In The Wind, My Friend, Guelph ON’s Lifestory:Monologue have cooked up a winning recipe. These five songs perfectly showcase the band’s scope, not putting too much on the plate and certainly not starving the listener of anything of substance.

The five-song offering starts off with “Dancing & Kisses,” which in my eyes is the standout track. Shimmering rhythm guitars interplay quite nicely with one another and act as seasoning to a very lucid composition that clocks in at 8:09, which I didn’t realize until my third listen while glancing at the clock on the dashboard. That’s saying something. Anyhow, the song (like the others save for “Rejoice, Rejoice”) serves up some passionately shouted (NOT screamed) vocals accented nicely with a hint of silky smooth backup singing. The two voices foil each other quite well, and while the backups are certainly more sonically pleasing, they work well in smaller doses next to the energetic main delivery.

The following three songs are just slightly darker in makeup to “Dancing & Kisses,” employing some interesting drum patterns and a bit more double kick for what you might call a “heavier” tone, though the record is by no means “heavy.” The opening riff of “Ultimate!” is stunning beautiful; two clean guitars dancing with each other before the bass and drums enter for a slightly darker and more urgent tone. Hold Me In The Wind, My Friend relies quite heavily on the pretty intertwining of the two guitars, with most of the albums shining moments coming in the form of extended riff acting as a batter into which the other instruments and vocals are tossed.

The band adds a dash of gang vocals here and a pinch of piano leads there – just to taste. Lyrically, the record is quite enticing, exploring various themes directly and matching the dynamics of what’s being sung with the dynamics of the music – both of which are strong points of the record. The instrumental closer is a nice way to top off the offering, allowing the band to once again do what it does best – create a sonic dish of different flavours that blend together for something fresh and exciting. The EP is a huge success. My appetite is wet and I’m ready for a full-course in the form of an LP. Hurry up guys; I’m starving.  [ END ]

Track Listing:

01. Dancing & Kisses
02. Ultimate!
03. Wolves Behind Me
04. Swat The Stalks
05. Rejoice, Rejoice

Run Time: 26:39