Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
When one thinks of Canada, one might find the mind wandering through dense forests in which the native tribes that called the country their own observed with care, with respect. One might think of the rugged coast lines, of fairness, of opportunity, of the pioneering spirit that arguably went beyond what the European settlers carved out as they punched holes into the very nature and balance, of great men and women who have sewn their name into the fabric of a country that is now over a 150 years old in name, of towns such as Hamilton, of Toronto and the great Port Cities.
Port Cities, a realisation that we this side of the pond don’t readily think Of Canada as much as we should, nor its entertainment and artistic value, we laud the likes of Rush, Bryan Adams, Joni Mitchell, K.D. Lang and Justin Beiber but we forget to look closer, to the new doing their upmost to keep the Maple Leaf flying, groups like No Sinner and from Nova Scotia, the tantalising Port Cities.
It is the mix of atmosphere that gives the band’s self titled debut a sense of proportion and giddy purity; in much the same way that the British band Dead Like Harry caught the attention of the listener, so too does Port Cities. From the weaving of Americana, through to the dashing of the Jazz refrain, Port Cities make the aural voyeuristic mood a pleasure to behold.
In tracks such as the opener Back To The Bottom, Don’t Say You Love Me, How To Lose You, On the Nights You Stay Home and The Out, the rustic ambience and intimacy is welded like a steel frame that supports the great ocean liners, one taken with absolute care, precision and pride; it is emotion that burns, but with the attitude of grace that is both heart warming, and like all the illustrious Port Cities, including Liverpool, it is a place where cultures and history is mixed and engaged with.
To not look beyond what has already been is perhaps an oversight, to continue to do so is foolish, in Port Cities, this is a band in which to cheer on and take satisfaction in.
Port Cities release their self titled debut album on March 9th.
Ian D. Hall