These guys just creep up on you, like Nick Cave’s little brothers (kinda moody, but quite harmless). Opening with “Beat the Drum Slowly”, a methodical dirge that surges and cuts, the listener is treated to nine other tracks of similar depth and attitude. Steering slightly into Burning Hell-itory (“Hot Dreams”), mood music for a ‘50s vampire soap opera remade by David Lynch (“This Low Commotion”) and even a few hopeful moments (“Run From Me”, “Curtains!?”) that are more fun than fearful, it’s a lot more diverse than previous offerings. Still, there’s that Canadian film noir with a wink feeling to it all, as if Count Floyd might pop out and howl at any moment, showing that the band doesn’t take itself all that seriously, just seriously enough. 

Published in Volume 68, Number 26 of The Uniter (May 7, 2014)