SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE PSYCH FI’S – CAN CON

THE PSYCH FI’S
CAN CON
BOBO INTEGRAL

When we think about psychedelic music, our thoughts typically go to the bygone era of the 1960s and bands such as early Pink Floyd, Jefferson Airplane, and Sgt. Pepper-Era Beatles. Psychedelic rock is still alive however, and one of its proponents is the Toronto-based singer-songwriter, Jerry Leger. As an offshoot of his side project band The Del Fi’s, Leger has assembled a band called The Pysch Fi’s, a loosely associated revolving door of musical collaborators.

Leading with the concept that their music be more adventurous and jam-oriented, Leger and The Psych Fi’s present a project where musicians are free to take risks when exploring musical themes. Recorded in one day and featuring 18 musicians who contributed in varying degrees to its creation, Can Con is a bold and fearless undertaking.

Although there are only five tracks on the recording, it is an album length project, as none of the tracks are shorter than six minutes long. The leadoff track, “Alone In A Room of Mirrors/James Cagney” is a 14-min extravaganza centred around a haunting guitar riff that evokes the old spaghetti westerns. Expansive and dramatic, the song features a number of different movements which are revisited throughout the piece, and a number of opportunities for extended jams.

In terms of its genre, this album would be best described as country rock or Americana, its ‘psychedelic-ness’ is found in the rambling, improvised spirit in which the songs are presented. A song such as the mid-tempo “Odds & Evens” plays like a lost extended jam by The Band. The song has a traditional structure, but there is so much going on with the instrumentation and vocals that compels the listener to pay attention.

It is really quite an accomplishment, to record an album live in a day with such a large cast of musicians, many of whom had never heard the songs before. We will not be listing all personnel here, but to name a few, Leger’s band The Situation (Dan Mock, Kyle Sullivan and Alan Zemaitis) all participated, as did musicians Nichol Robertson, Jason Kenemy, Dave Clark, Angie Hilts and Katie Cruel. The project was also given a bit of pyschedelic cred with the participation of Don Stevenson, a founding member of the ’60s San Francisco psych-rock band Moby Grape.

With the release of Can Con The Psych Fi’s emerge as more than just a curiosity, or a side project. They are a testament to a certain style and presentation of musical expression, and they deserve to be listened to. You have got to hear this album.

SPILL FEATURE: MAN AT WORK – A CONVERSATION WITH JERRY LEGER

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