Royal Canoe
Waver
Paper Bag Records
Hailing from Winnipeg and Steinbach, Ontario, Royal Canoe is an indie pop band that’s been gracing the stage since 2010. Band members Matt Peters, Bucky Driedger, Matt Schellenberg, Brendan Berg, Derek Allard and Michael Jordan come together on Waver to create a cohesive sound that carries through the entire album.
With synth beats reminiscent of early MGMT and a strong vocal backing, Royal Canoe spectacularly capture a psychedelic rock sound. Their instrumental talents wonderfully highlight the lyrics the album offers. In “Peep This”, listeners get to enjoy an almost off-kilter drum pattern with smooth vocals to match. “77-76”, one of the album’s singles, starts off slow but packs quite the punch in the long run. This record’s clear focus on vocals, echoed and raspy in the style of Andrew Wyatt from Miike Snow, helps to drive home the emotions that Royal Canoe are working to convey. “What’s Left in the River” contains some finely-tuned guitar work as well as some experimental synth beats and sound manipulation.
An adventure peppered with funky tracks and haunting melodies, Waver is a diverse joyride that listeners will enjoy from start to finish.
Artist Links
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ROYAL CANOE – WAVER
Audra Hopkins
