the new pornographers: electric version.
a couple of years ago, there was a lot of talk in the canadian music world about a supergroup forming in the west coast, featuring members from somewhat unknown groups such as zumpano, destroyer, limblifter and the evaporators. word of mouth travelled fast about the strong power pop and it wasn't long before the radio picked up on the first single and everyone fell hard for the new pornographers.
this time around, they have a new album around, set to storm the united states and europe. electric version has been licensed to matador records from the brilliant mint records. dan bejar (aka destroyer) no longer performs with the porns, although he's provided three songs for the album, which have a refined splendour that gives some pomp to the album. this leaves zumpano's carl newman to shine with the bulk of the songs, which harken back to the 1970s with the post-beatle garage pop that canada has down cold.
the album starts off with the self-titled song, which is a peppy organ number driven by a chugga chugga rhythm. then on other songs, such as july jones and the new face of zero and one, more new wave elements drift in, with a stompy then whispery dirge.
however, the new pornographers' not-so-secret weapon is the awesome chanteuse neko case, who brings her heart-on-her-sleeve country confessional on a large giant torch, threatening to burn every song she's in down. the knockout first single the laws have changed twirls about blissfully before neko one ups and steals it away. all for swinging you around is a whimsical bit of funny love and miss teen wordpower coos a slice of attractions pop before drifting into the air, pulling you along with all the hooks each song has.
new music canada has a few streaming samples, if you've never heard. but you must, oh yes, you must experience the new pornography.