Having been three years since Kiss Me Deadly released their debut album, Travel Light, on Blue Skies Turn Black, many people were left thinking they’d just be another flash-in-the-pan. But with the release of Misty Medley on Alien8 Recordings, this four-piece from Montreal is anything but history. What the LP will attest to, however, is that Kiss Me Deadly’s sound has evolved into something quite unique and inspiring.
Branching away from their apparent post punk foundation of emo and math rock, members Emily Frazier, Adam Poulin, Mathieu du Montier, and Erik Petersen are now vying for songs a little more volumous yet melodic. For instance, the first two tracks on Misty Medley (also the first two tracks on the Amoureux Cosmiques EP), “Dance 4” and “Dance 1,” radiate a sort of organic atmosphere of shimmering guitar and lively drums that fill the air, encompassing Frazier’s charmingly whispery, and sometimes squeaking singing style. KMD has retained the backbone of their tempo-changing roots and struck a more ethereal tone, making it something you’d more than likely want to dance to.
On the more radio-friendly “Pop,” Poulin takes over lead vocal duties and gives KMD a more 1980’s anthemic feel, oddly enough. Of course it helps that the guitars flicker around like something off of Rattle and Hum, while Poulin’s singing gravitates back and forth from cool and serene to ostentatious. But it all comes together on “Groove” where Frazier takes over on lead vocals, giving Poulin the minor role of joining in on the chorus. And through the repeated, varied lines of, “It doesn’t matter if you’re all alone,” subtle hints of violin and piano highlight the song, giving it an endearing, heartwarming feel.
Mixed into the pot are some of Sonic Youth’s no-wave sensibilities with a bit of Echo and The Bunnymen and the band’s most obvious influence, The Sugarcubes’ avant-rock masterpiece Life’s Too Good. It is hard to imagine all these sounds pertaining to one disc, but that is one of the great charms of the record. Kiss Me Deadly manages to make it work. With so much going on, Misty Medley rewards with each listen. Though the record may seem quite arty, it is pop enough for the malcontents who can’t get their head around experimental music. |