Oh, Lizzie Powell, it's been too long!Canada's given a lot of great
alt-songstresses, from Leslie Feist (QRO live review) to Emily Haines of Metric (QRO live
review), and a year or two ago, it seemed
like Land of Talk's Elizabeth Powell (QRO interview) was going to be the next.Beautiful voice that is still
approachable?Check.Interesting but not baffling musical
choices?Check.Put out a record worthy of a
breakthrough?Some Are Lakes
- Check (QRO review).Alt-hot?Check (QRO photos).Dating/dated another alt-singer/songwriter?Justin Vernon of Bon Iver (QRO album review) - Check.Served as female vocalist on a Broken Social Scene (QRO
spotlight on) tour or two?Check (QRO photos).
And then Powell disappeared for a year...Before & during her 2008 tour
opening for/doing female vocals for Broken Social Scene (which included a stop
at CMJ - QRO recap), Powell's voice
started to give out.While she
shouldered on through the BSS tour, Powell laid low after that.Now, just about a year later, Land of
Talk (the singer/guitarist's three-piece, with a seemingly ever-rotating
bassists & drummers) returns with Fun and Laughter EP.While not the refreshing breakthrough
of Some Are Lakes or the preceding debut
Applause Cheer Boo Hiss EP (QRO
review), Fun and Laughter
reminds everyone why they loved Elizabeth Powell in the first place.
"Sixteen Asterik" starts the EP out with some new tech
experiments thrown in the mix, however, its core is still Powell's restrained
but powerful vocals and guitar, which almost sneak up & grab you, even
though you see them coming."May
You Never" brings a stronger press, as well as nighttime elements, while "As
Me" repeats the "Give Me Back My Heart Attack" (QRO video)/"It's Okay" (QRO video) one-two dichotomy from Some Are Lakes,
going from hitting rock to a softer, more encompassing nature, while retaining
Powell's signature sound.Closer
"A Series of Small Events" brings a more relaxed, almost alt-country strum to
Land of Talk, but is still matched well with Powell's voice.
QRO has expected big things from the first time we saw Land
of Talk (QRO live review), and only
thought more so after Some Are Lakes (#2 in our Top 40 Albums
of 2008), so Powell's vocal malaise hit
here pretty hard (including scotching an interview during CMJ...).But she's back on the road this fall,
just the coasts for a few dates.Fun
and Laughter similarly whets appetites, brings back a taste of a
favorite flavor.
Primary Colours explores new musical territory, whilst keeping The Horror’s signature deathly undertone alive.
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