PaulStrong debut for Raindance

Review

Page 11

Peyote

by Raindance Sunshine Records

Including the pre-production phase, it was two years in the making, but

Peyote, Raindance's debut album of 11 original songs, has finally hit

the stands.

Raindance is a four-piece-group from (presumably, although it's not

totally clear) Georgina Island, Ont. and their line-up is Mardy Lucier

Porte (guitar/traditional flute/harmonica/percussion/vocals), Nick

Chiarore (drums/vocals), Dove (bass/vocals), and Adam Songchow (lead

vocals).

Production chores were handled by the band and Terry Brown, a very able

knob twiddler who has previously recorded with among others Blue Rodeo

and Rush. With Brown's experience and excellent ears in mind, you would

expect a full tight sound and once again he has come through. The

overall sound is melodic, groove heavy and reminiscent of bands like

Soundgarden, though the Soundgarden bit doesn't hold true for the whole

album.

Peyote is mostly a heavy rock album, but the songs that really stand

out are the acoustic-based instrumentals, such as "Beshigoozhii (Horse)"

and "Eko Forever". The band's info sheets describe Raindance as being

"the most versatile young rock band...in years." and the first few songs

make you wonder what they meant by versatile. Then Beshigoozhii starts

up and you think no, they weren't just tying to con you after all. If

David Byrne of Talking Heads fame was listening to Native music as

opposed to world beat, he'd probably come up with something like this.

"Day Dream" is another stand out with its strong echoes of recent Red

Hot Chilli Peppers.

Raindance is mostly an original rock and roll band, though. There is

strong native lyrical perspective in many of the songs. (Land of "Peace"

and "Raindance", to name two.) While the lyrics are a bit wonky in

spots, there is also some interesting abstract poetry, a song about

aliens ("Descending"), intricate off-beat percussion work and rhythms,

and an overall fun feel to the songs.

However, "Kick Start The Indian" doesn't quite make that nut. It's a

song about motorbiking on the open roads and if you've never done that

before, this is not going to provide you with the necessary

inspiration. The interlude is pretty cool, though, with its tempo and

groove changes. "Kick Start The Indian, by the way, is the lead off

single and video.

Peyote also lets you play the "Where'd they cop that lick from?' game.

You hear a part that really reminds you of something else and you spend

the next little while trying to figure it out. By the time you have it

sussed, along comes another and you're into a different song. Among the

more noticeable are splashes of Golden Earing and the Beatles. This is

not to say they are Beatlesque or anything like that. Just that there

is a pop element to Raindance's heavy rock.

All in all, its a strong debut album and they'd probably be a good band

to see in some smoke filled bar. But take some earplugs too. A nickel

says they'll be pretty loud.