AWmusic

My first exposure to Bend Sinister was a few years back at a party hosted by Patty C. It was quite the evening, and although my memory of their set is quite fuzzy, they sure have changed since then.

Comprised of Dan Moxon (vocals/keys/guitar), Joseph Blood (guitars), Henry Alcock White (guitar/vocals), Joel Meyers (bass) and Jason Dana (drums/percussion), Bend Sinister has come a long way from playing small clubs in Kelowna. On Stories of Brothers, Tales of Lovers, they are a band with a distinctly vintage feel, utilizing wall-of-sound production tactics and rubbed down with a bit of Supertramp and ELO.

The band reunited with talented producer Shawn Cole to create a dazzling collection of originals, but this time it’s a concept album. This was spurred by the old-fashioned idea that an album should be listened to in its entirety , with each song a building block, and a piece of a bigger story.

“The News” is delectable power pop – dramatic as Queen’s best work. Moxon begins bravely with a whistling solo. “I whistle…it has been one of my fortés since being a kid,” he says. “The song is about how, no matter what, you can’t help but be influenced by the past. I included lyrics from The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin in each verse. It was trying to playfully honour influence of music past rather than be so bold as to claim that everything we do is totally original.”

“Brothers of Humankind” showcases strong drumming and its upbeat tempo is reminiscent of “The Ghost at Number One” from ’90s pop group Jellyfish. “This was kind of a comment about those of us who can be lazy, indifferent, and stand idle while other live life and achieve their goals,” said Moxon.

“CT” is like a Jewish folk song on a spinning carousel, while “Once Again” also comes off like an amusement park ride, with its arpeggios and galloping drums. The full sound swirls like a harpsichord.

On “Careless”, Moxon’s voice is melted butter on the verse and metallic toffee on the chorus, backed by strings and subtle instrumentation. “Because Because” is like a bleeding heart doused in minor chords and swaddled in harmony, the kind of song to listen to while looking out the window of a train; its coda is like a modern-day “I Want You“.

“Jimmy Brown”, with its “Benny and the Jets”-tinged piano riff, is a good time. It’s the kind of tune that could be mistaken for an ‘80s sitcom theme song. “You ain’t no Bill Gates,” sings Moxon, cozying up to a wailing guitar. Moxon explains, “This was a playful song about a character, Jimmy Brown, who is your straight-ahead ‘live all about work’, 9-to-5 character. He cannot understand why his co-worker would go out each night to party and dance…he rats the guy out to the boss and comes in with the voice of harsh reason: ‘No, good times aren’t enough!’” The album is full of character studies such as this one.

“Dr. Lee is the fictional man in the love-hate story that runs through the second half of the record – tales of lovers between himself and a woman, Julianna,” explains Moxon. “[He’s] a wealthy womanizer who realizes too late that if you don’t find love and treat everyone badly, you’ll end up alone in the end.” The catchy and danceable tune with that character’s name features a jazzy and intricate piano part and powered-up guitar. “It’s hard to say who is the best dancer, but I’m pretty sure I could give all the guys a run for their money,” says Moxon.

On “Give Into the Night”, the listener is treated to vocals by Adaline, who guest stars with choir teacher Dawn Pemberton throughout the album to add some curves to Bend Sinister’s rigid points and lines. “Demise” serves as the tale of Dr. Lee’s downfall, while the string-propelled “City Lights” (where Moxon sounds his most English, particularly when he sings, “dentists use their novacaine”) is his last lament.

When asked if the band’s time in the studio provided any amusing anecdotes, he made mention of late-night visits to Commercial Drive’s Belgian Fries. “We each go get a massive poutine…complete with the lamb sausage all mixed in! It’s a ritual, but then we end up feeling too full to want to do anything else.”

This album has the same effect: it tastes and feels good, but your senses may be overloaded, your ears left buzzing and your heart-rate elevated.

Bend Sinister plays the Dawson City Music Festival on July 17.

MP3:
Bend Sinister – Because Because
Bend Sinister – The News

Video:
Directed by Colin Minham

Buy at:
Distort Digital

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