Review Summary: Indie Kids Having Fun
The Regina-based Library Voices is a band that seems to be on the cusp of national recognition. After less than two years of existence the ten-piece indie outfit has been called an "undiscovered band you have to hear" by Spin magazine and has released their debut EP Hunting Ghosts & Other Collected Shorts through indie label Young Soul Records. The disc showcases the diversity of sounds this act is capable of while still maintaining a sense of cohesion throughout the six tracks. The disc’s opening, Step Of The Map & Float, brings us right into what Library Voices is all about – a sound which conveys a sense of community. The gang vocals are one of the most entertaining parts of the disc, and as I listen to Things We Stole from Vonnegut’s Grave I imagine the mini-orchestra performing to a crowd shouting “So it goes, so it goes, until you’re unstuck in time,“ back at the band. Along with referencing the late Kurt Vonnegut the careful listener will hear allusions to artists from Tom Waits to Franz Kafka, which is a personal favourite element of the EP.
Hunting Ghosts & Other Collected Shorts is a good effort from a young band. The budding ability of the group is evident, but a little innovation in song writing is what this band needs. This album relies a bit too heavily on its genre’s clichés to create memorable music. The EP can be a fun listen, but if Library Voices can focus their writing and direction they should have no problem garnering attention from indie fans around the country.
