Chad VanGaalen - Shrink Dust
- Written by Alicja Tokarska
Multi-talented Canadian artist Chad VanGaalen makes a return with his fifth album Shrink Dust. Known for his love for eclectic instruments and a zealous avoidance of commercial studios, VanGaalen’s follow–up to his 2011 release Diaper Island still carries those characteristics despite the three year gap.
All twelve songs on the album maintain the same dreamy atmosphere. Right from the opener, 'Cut Off My Hands', through to the closing number, 'Cosmic Destroyer', the listener is transported into a different world filled with strange vocals and 'Devendra Banhart-meets-Villangers' compositions. The multitude of noises has been shaped up into a coherent and neat chaos of sounds, and the echoing, poignant vocals of VanGaalen add to the melancholic character of the record.
The album seems to be a self–reflective piece, with lyrics referring to the passing of time, maturity and growing old. 'Weighed Sin' deals with past mistakes, 'Hangman's Son' tackles VanGaalen’s 'demons that cursed' him, and 'Lila', whose lyrics focus on the past. This variety of lyrical themes make it hard not to notice the mature and contemplative character of the record. Although the album should undoubtedly be listened to in one go, the songs are still very distinct, and every single one brings something new to the table.
'Frozen Paradise', in spite of the title, brings to mind a peaceful spring morning; 'Leaning on Bells' adds the energy that is lacking in some of the mellow numbers; 'Weird Love' gives the listener a feeling of a lazy summer afternoon spent drinking endless cups of coffee and listening to your records on repeat. However coherent the compositions on the album are, each gives the listener a different feeling and brings something else to mind. Shrink Dust will definitely appeal to those who enjoyed Chad VanGaalen's previous records, but even those who don't know his older albums yet appreciate a non-conventional approach to guitar music, should find it to their liking.
Shrink Dust is available from amazon (here) and iTunes (here).