Country : Canada (Quebec) Label : Secret City Genres and styles : Art Pop / Art Rock Year : 2020

Shadow Offering

· by Alain Brunet

What happens when an art-rock band, prize-winning for its experimental properties, temporarily changes course and emphasizes songwriting concision? Will early fans abandon a ship that’s taking on new passengers for a more lucrative cruise? And if no one from anywhere on the spectrum of perceptions digs it, will the band risk shipwreck? That’s the challenge facing Braids, an excellent power trio originally from Calgary, formerly a quartet, and transplanted to Montreal a decade ago. The nine songs on the program of Shadow Offering, the band’s fourth album, are the result of a rigorous and sincere development, longer than expected. Thus, we are dealing here with real AABA-format songs, with intro, chorus, bridge, decorated with ornamental discoveries. The melodic hooks are inspired, the chord progressions solidly constructed, the vocal and instrumental interpretations straight to the point. Good work, without a doubt, from Raphaelle Standell-Preston (vocals and guitars), Taylor Smith (synths, bass, guitars, piano, organ), Austin Tufts (drums, percussion, piano), and co-producer Chris Walla. The innovative elements of this new batch are therefore more tenuous than before. Instead, the emphasis is on visceral interpretation, succinct playing, and getting “back to basics” as a sports coach would say. The future will tell whether Braids’ audience grows smoothly with this generalized accessibility and relative reduction of compositional risk in favour of proven stylistic references, which are dependent on the alternative pop-rock of the ’80s and ’90s.

Latest 360 Content

Wu-Tang Clan & Mathematics – Black Samson, the Bastard Swordsman.

Wu-Tang Clan & Mathematics – Black Samson, the Bastard Swordsman.

Dalit Hadass Warshaw, Boston Modern Orchestra Project / Gil Rose – Sirens

Dalit Hadass Warshaw, Boston Modern Orchestra Project / Gil Rose – Sirens

Howard Shore/Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France – Shore : Anthology

Howard Shore/Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France – Shore : Anthology

Quatuor Diotima – Boulez : Livre pour quatuor

Quatuor Diotima – Boulez : Livre pour quatuor

LMNL – Rainbow

LMNL – Rainbow

Strat Andriotis – Exits

Strat Andriotis – Exits

Richard Reed Parry – The Actor

Richard Reed Parry – The Actor

Tamara Stefanovich – Organised Delirium

Tamara Stefanovich – Organised Delirium

Galan Trio – Embrace

Galan Trio – Embrace

Jack Van Zandt – A Chaos of Light and Motion

Jack Van Zandt – A Chaos of Light and Motion

Tommy Crane – Reality Curated: Live at Ursa

Tommy Crane – Reality Curated: Live at Ursa

Thomas DeLio – Anti-paysage

Thomas DeLio – Anti-paysage

No Hay Banda – Steven Kazuo Takasugi : Il Teatro Rosso

No Hay Banda – Steven Kazuo Takasugi : Il Teatro Rosso

Vancouver Contemporary Orchestra; Vancouver Chamber Choir – Christopher Tyler Nickel : Mass; Te Deum

Vancouver Contemporary Orchestra; Vancouver Chamber Choir – Christopher Tyler Nickel : Mass; Te Deum

Hypercube – The Force for Good

Hypercube – The Force for Good

PUP – Who Will Look After the Dogs?

PUP – Who Will Look After the Dogs?

Duo AYA – Cycles

Duo AYA – Cycles

Papillon Social Club – Dur de la feuille

Papillon Social Club – Dur de la feuille

Coalescent Quartet – The Wall Between Us

Coalescent Quartet – The Wall Between Us

Samuel Bonnet Trio – Live in Harmony

Samuel Bonnet Trio – Live in Harmony

Marc-André Hamelin; Quatuor Takacs – Dvořák & Price : Piano Quintets

Marc-André Hamelin; Quatuor Takacs – Dvořák & Price : Piano Quintets

Oktopus – Brahms, Balkans & Bagels

Oktopus – Brahms, Balkans & Bagels

OCM: Bernstein and his “Side stories” in the spotlight

OCM: Bernstein and his “Side stories” in the spotlight

Subscribe to our newsletter