The Folk - We All Say
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| The Folk - We All Say |
When I started a band as a
teenager the obvious place to look for members was my immediate group of
friends. I mean, if you're going to spend months at a time touring the world
with these people, they might as well be people you get on with, right?
Canadian quintet The Folk have a similar philosophy as they are a group that
has formed around friendship and you can kinda tell. From the opening strains
and jangles of 'In Silence', the listener is treated to a sound that is not so
much separate instruments but more different sounds coming from the same
singular source. The delicate introduction to 'Subtle Play' has tones of Belly
or Veruca Salt to it but with a slightly more pop-ballad feel that suggest this
song could be picked up and polished for the likes of Pink or Kelly Clarkson
but it's much more effective in its original, raw form. The Beatles-esque
opening to 'So They Say' is a huge indication of the variety of influences and
styles that these guys have drawn from, so when the soulful vocal of Sara
Bortolon-Vettor kicks in and the band swirl all around in a myriad of time
signatures it's a delightfully eclectic twister to be in.
By the time 'Soft Dispute' rolls
around, I am quickly falling for The Folk and largely because they keep me
guessing between indie, grunge, soul, rock, pop and whatever Alanis Morissette
is. 'I'll See You Again' uses those retro keys sounds again but layers on some
luscious vocals, intermingling guitars and mixes it all together with a jazzy
rock spoon. Then the goalposts get moved again as a grumbling, fuzzed up bass
line heralds the arrival of 'Physical Sound' which descends in to a swirling,
bluesy, garage rock maelstrom that owes as much to Hendrix and Joplin as it
does the White Stripes or the Black Keys. The jaunty, Redd Kross meets the
Magic Numbers indie-piano-pop of 'I Care (If You Care)' is an innocent delight
while 'Staying Up All Night' is a more introspective, melancholic affair which
relies on acoustic guitars and vocals only but still builds in to an eminently
satisfying climax. Those jangling, winding guitars are back on 'Deep Space' as
The Folk find a point somewhere between 90s dance, Haight-Ashbury and the XX to
pitch their tent in. The album finishes up on 'We All Say/Basement Feeling' with
that beautiful eclecticism is there for all to see again and that's the great
thing about being in a band with real, true friends. Even if there are any egos
you are all close enough to deal with them which means there is space for
everyone to bring ideas to the table and create something out of a collective
mind, heart and soul.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/TheFolkFolk
Listen/Download Here: http://thefolk.bandcamp.com/album/we-all-say
Live Dates:
20th March - Clark Hall Pub, Kingston
21st March - Pressed Cafe, Ottawa w/Adverteyes
30th March - Merchant Ale House, Saint Catharines
4th April - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto w/Navy Skies + The Dying
Arts + The Keroucs