Young Galaxy : Invisible Republic

<span style="font-weight: normal"><img src="http://www.qromag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/younggalaxyinvisible.jpg" alt=" " /><i>Invisible Republic</i></span> brings the Young Galaxy's grand power back. ...
7.6 Paper Bag
2010 

Young Galaxy : Invisible Republic

For a while, it looked like Young Galaxy was going to be the also-ran, could’ve-been band of the Canadian Invasion.  Centered on ex-Stars (QRO live review) members Catherine McCandless (vocals/keys) and Stephen Ramsay (vocals/guitars), but also including Liam O’Neill of The Stills (QRO spotlight on) on drums, they made a strong showing with their 2007 self-titled debut (QRO review) & engaging live show (QRO review), but then seemed to disappear, while others from the Great White North surged ahead, and the original invaders like Broken Social Scene (QRO spotlight on) returned.  But Invisible Republic reintroduces the band’s grand power.

Not as orchestral or romantic as Stars, Young Galaxy instead balance that with an indie-rock power more familiar in Toronto, not their own Montreal.  It makes for growing power on Invisible Republic, starting with single “Long Live the Fallen World”, where McCandless’ synth-growth is well married to Ramsay’s guitar.  The pair work well together throughout the record, with McCandless the grandeur, Ramsay the soft undercurrents.  The dueling strains can make for a bit of a disjointed experience when they go outside of the wheelhouse, such as in the kinda funky “Disposable Things”, the more orchestral “Pathos”, or the torch song “Firestruck”.  But sweeter “Dreams” is moving in its touch, while the more Casio-like keys work in the following “Queen Drum”.

Still, Young Galaxy’s core is in epicness that feels intimate on “Long Live”, “Destroyer”, or “Light Years”.  With another record on the horizon for early 2011, Young Galaxy are making their way back into the indie-verse.

Categories
Album Reviews
  • Anonymous
    at
  • No Comment

    Leave a Reply

    Album of the Week