ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Liam McGorry, of Saskwatch fame, has gathered together a 15-piece ensemble for his new band Dorsal Fins. Eschewing soul in favour of an indie rock palette, the group has captured the energy of psychedelic rock while not being bound to its tropes.Mind Renovationis the gratifying result of a side project gone right.
Hidden away amongst the psychedelia are songs that are as exciting as they are anomalous. The poppy synths of ‘Heart On The Floor’ make you want to stamp your feet, while the guitar riffs in ‘Sun & Stars’ could be lifted directly from a Japanese video game.
As they shift between psych rock and a range of eclectic genres, from the powerful spoken word of ‘Jacqueline’ to the ethereal balladry of ‘Fell’, it feels like we’re discovering secret tracks rather than following a simple progression through the album.
Consistent throughout is Dorsal Fins’ dynamic horn section, which ties the album together when it might otherwise feel disjointed. McGorry’s influence as a trumpeter comes through strongly to complement rather than clutter. It elevates the good songs and makes the great ones even better.
This fusion is what makes Mind Renovation work. The band trusts each other’s skills enough to experiment with a vast array of genres, and trusts the audience enough to appreciate it.
4/5.
Mind Renovationis out Friday February 13 through Gripless/Remote Control.
