SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: A BOOK FOR WANDERERS – MOTION POTION

A BOOK FOR WANDERERS
MOTION POTION
INDEPENDENT

Anthony Botting, the singer and guitarist from the St. Catharines-based independent punk outfit, The Cocktails, has released his debut solo record under the name A Book For Wanderers. Aside from a handful of guest performers, including Dave Romano – who previously performed the guitar solo on City and Colour’s “Sleeping Sickness” – Motion Potion was performed entirely by Botting himself.

Motion Potion opens with “Long Lost Wave,” a straight-ahead rock tune lead by fuzzed-out guitars and a rhythmic riff. Behind the explicitly garage rock sound of the song stands a subtle electronic influence with the beat programmed on an analogue drum machine. While sounding very much like a song that could fit on either of the three previous records from The Cocktails, there is more to “Long Lost Wave” that establishes Botting as visionary songwriter with a drive for experimentation. This becomes especially clear on the following track, “Bad Seed,” a song that makes further use of electronic drums. There is a slight distortion to the beat that lends itself to an industrial energy, despite the West Coast punk vibe behind the riff.

Despite opening with a more alt-rock style, there are moments, such as “Counterfeit” and “Nonchalant,” where the drum machine and synths take the lead to effective degree. The former feels highly nostalgic to glossy pop of the ‘80s, while the latter stands as a far more aggressive take, akin to if Nine Inch Nails hailed from Los Angeles rather than Cleveland. While rare, these moments demonstrate a strong level of songwriting that seamlessly merges a love for electronic music and rock; it’s organic and leaves me excited to see how this artistic journey will continue as this fusion further develops. Additional highlights include the ripper that is “Repeater,” the thrashing “On And On,” and the dreamy “Magnolia.”

All in all, Motion Potion marks an exciting new chapter for Botting with A Book For Wanderers effectively serving as a place for creative and sonic exploration. As such, his debut solo album demonstrates a greater artistic vision beyond the alternative punk one would come to expect from The Cocktails and should leave listeners excited to see how this continues to develop.

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