Artist: Eight and A Half
Album: Eight and A Half
Label: Arts and Crafts
Release Date: April 10th, 2012
Review by: Sean Kayden
Toronto indie label Arts & Crafts, known for their eclectic roster of bands, including supergroup Broken Social Scene, are expanding their repertoire for 2012. With B.S.S. on an indefinite hiatus, the label is on the lookout for the next big indie act. The latest addition to their team is Eight and A Half—a three-piece group comprised of Dave Hamelin and Liam O'Neil, former members from the out of commission group, The Stills (Arts & Crafts alumni) and Justin Peroff, the drummer for Broken Social Scene. This isn’t BSS or The Stills revisited, in spite of some influences to be on display. Eight and A Half focuses more on synthesizers and samplers as a vital integration in their somewhat minimalistic approach. The amalgamation of eerie sounds, dark ambience, and rich textures are deeply rooted in the band’s experimental resonance.
Liam O’Neil, the secondary vocalist when a member of The Stills takes on full responsibilities as the primary singer. The transition seems effortless while O’Neil exhibits a crooning method as he carefully and expressively sings. On the second track of Eight and A Half’s self-titled debut, “Scissors,” O’Neil’s singing is a lull—soothing, pacifying, and warm. When he despondently speaks the words “Hold me like an old friend, Hold me like an omen,” you can sense the heartbreak and lonesomeness in his voice. “Scissors” is the slowest song off the record, but clearly one of the band’s stronger tracks. The recent single, “Go Ego,” is a tight, richly layered, synth-heavy tune that describes someone who had it all, but everything is now lost. The album remains faithful to the members’ previous work, however, it’s also cementing a name for the new band as they expand on their earlier sounds. “Took A Trip To India” is the best song Eight and A Half has developed. The poppy gem is smooth, beautifully arranged, and simply awesome. The chorus of “Two Points” takes a cue from Broken Social Scene, but even with the comparison, this is wholly an Eight and A Half song from top to bottom.
The guys claim this is no side project, but a full fledge band. If that’s the case, Arts and Crafts may have another big player on their lineup. The Canadian group’s first outing is short-lived however, clocking in at just over 35 minutes over the span of ten tracks. The first and last tracks are more like an intro and outro leaving the listener with eight complete songs. The record is pretty impressive regardless of its brief length. Often times, debut albums feel a bit green, but Eight and A Half show no signs of that. In fact, their sound is polished, refined, and complete. Given the pedigree behind the project and how I’m already an avid fan of the members’ earlier work, it really comes as no surprise that the record is as good as it is. While the direction in sound is different, Eight and A Half are a worthy substitute for B.S.S. fans aching for a fix. However, I wouldn’t be all too shocked if E.A.A.H. attract a lexicon of old and new supporters in the process.
Key Tracks: “Go Ego”, “Scissors”, “Took A Trip To India”, “Two Points”
Grade: 8.3 out of 10
Published by Mountain Views News on April 21, 2012
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v06/htm/n16/p15.htm
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