Majical Cloudz - Impersonator

Words by Emily Levant

Don't let the album's title, Impersonator, throw you for a loop. Montreal-based duo Majical Cloudz layer subtle rhythmic beats beneath brooding vocals for a result that is uniquely original. Within the context of today's music, which seems to lean towards noises haphazardly mashed up with big, BIG sounds, Magical Cloudz' deliberate, minimalist style is akin to stumbling down a crowded city street and suddenly landing in a stark fairy-tale-esque forest. This is particularly evidenced by a listen to the titular track, Impersonator, which commands attention in the most unobtrusive and therefore captivating way possible. The ambient backdrop of collaborator Matthew Otto's electronic loops, swells, dips, drones, and pulsating keyboard patterns are impressively precise in their own right -- perhaps even more so, the fact that Otto is able to control their impact so tightly; letting Devon Welsh's throaty voice take center stage, calmly disseminating. His haunting, provocative lyrics about a father being shot to death and a relationship that frayed, as is evident on Childhood's End. We've included the official video for that track, and it's a masterpiece in and of itself. Don't click away before having watched it, it's amazing. "This Is Magic," "I Do Sing For You,"Mister," and "Turns Turns Turns" are all gems. To some, the cold style may be not make enough noise to get noticed; others willing to invest their time and ears, know good things come to those who wait. The steady build of Impersonator definitely pays off. [soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/90439926" params="" width=" 600%" height="200" iframe="true" /] [caption id="attachment_13484" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Photo: Denis Nazarov[/caption]

Impersonator (Tracklisting)

01. Impersonator 02. This Is Magic 03. Childhood's End 04. I Do Sing For You 05. Mister 06. Turns Turns Turns 07. Silver Rings 08. Illusion 09. Bugs Don't Buzz 10. Notebook Find them on Facebook.