With a name as whimsical as their sound, Canadian folk n' roots band Layer Cake Mountain Band has released their debut studio album, The View from Here.
Hailing from the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, the band debuted as a four-piece act in late summer 2022, consisting of Shamma Sabir (fiddle, vocals), Sean Bray (guitar, vocals), Loni Moger (guitar, vocals), and Stefan Bienz (bass, vocals). Spearheading the songwriting process amidst the group are Sabir and Bray, publicly broadcasting the process on the band's Facebook page, stating the difference in writing styles and individual experiences between the two writers.
The album opens with "Hello Baby, Please Say Maybe", an upbeat love song that sets up the laid-back folksy tone that this album provides. It's the type of song that can be accompanied by a long walk down a trail surrounded by nature. The song gives its listeners the theme of the album -- love -- and the different forms or situations it can take two people on. In this easy going number, the narrator wants to hear a response (more towards a confirmation) for his love confession, to continue to spend more time with each other.
Having an opposition turn in "Gypsy Girl," the following song, in which the transient subject in the relationship blocks herself from continuing the feeling of love, hinting at her decline emotionally. Electric guitar and fiddle shine in this track, offering a delightfully mysterious almost Eastern European-style charm to its sound.
When listening to any album, there are songs that could be further enhanced via live shows rather than the audio version. In The View from Here, it's "Colorado Tumbleweed," a sole instrumental track, showcasing the talents of all in the entire band, highlighting the work of percussion and bass. It further allows the listeners to be immersed in the music itself, and one I'd imagine goes over even better live.
The album ends with "Rain," a fitting conclusion to put on the emotional rollercoaster that this storyline has been taking. Sabir -- being the main songwriter for "Rain," "Gypsy Girl," and other songs in the album -- hits on motifs that cycles around the psychological feeling of finding self-love and the need to break away from external love to fulfill that journey.
Inspired by the vistas of the Okanagan Valley, the Layer Cake Mountain Band takes its name from the geological wonder of one of Kelowna's most prominent landmarks, serving as a sonic ode to such natural beauty. The band offers a rural modern roots sound that's easy on the ears and instrumentally impressive.
The View from Here wraps its strong lyricism into a comforting atmosphere, allowing an enjoyable balance for the listeners. The album is available now on all major streaming services.
Listen on Spotify
No comments:
Post a Comment