SONIC MASALA: Art Imperial

Wednesday, 13 June 2012

Art Imperial Proves Master Of Love

Last year I waxed lyrical about Toronto band Art Imperial's Surf Suburban EP (you can check that out here). Art's new EP Cult Of Love is a slight tangent on that release's take on surf-pop, shunning wistful longings for the beach for the wistful longings of a loved one - yep, Cult Of Love is a slave to the broken heart. Apart from a cover of The Monkees' 'She', the EP is Art's focused construction of a piece that focuses on love gone south, yet tinging it with a silver lining of hope that this is not the end of the road. It's a nice addition to the oeuvre, and is surprisingly upbeat and catchy - but then, the best down-and-out songs are. Art Imperial hasn't ditched the beachside melodies either, with the sounds steeped in 50s and 60s shimmer and bluster, proving the perfect elixir of love. Love love love. Love.

Grab Cult Of Love here.

Art Imperial - Cult Of Love
Art Imperial - Jesus In The Morning

Monday, 23 May 2011

Imperialist Art For The Suburban Surf Set

Shit its miserable in Brisbane today! All rain and bluster. Thank God then for Toronto's Art Imperial, whose Surf Suburban EP I received recently. The idea of the EP apparently came from having The Mamas & The Papas' 'California Dreamin' on repeat during a long winter period, with the wistful dreaming of standing on a white sand beach, watching crystal blue waves crash against the shore. Im with you there brother... Sure, there are umpteen inferences to other acts here, from pop pioneers The Beach Boys to more recent acolytes such as Wavves, Girls and Beach Fossils. There's even a hint of good 80s new wave under the twanging surf guitars on tracks like 'Bugs Out My Mind' that invokes the cheerier moments of the Raveonettes. All amazing touchstones, Im sure you'd agree. Nevertheless there is a genuine thematic zeal underpinning these six tracks (plus a surprisingly crystalline production) that helps to elevate them above mere mimicry. Dreamy euphoric pop whimsy maybe? Im not sure, but Surf Suburban is doing it for me. And for you folks stripping down as summer approaches, then you have an early contender to crown your seasonal mixtape.

You can get Surf Suburban at Art Imperial's Bandcamp here.

Art Imperial - When Im With You (I Feel Dumb)
Art Imperial - Bugs Out My Mind

About

It was early on a Sunday morning at ATP - A Nightmare Before Christmas 2009. After downing a fair few, at 4am we decided to cook a curry. It was during the consumption of this drunkenly delicious breakfast treat that we decided to actually do something about the music we talk about all the time.

So we started a blog – and Sonic Masala was born. Now into its seventh year, the blog has spread out to call both Australia and the UK its home (and the rest of the world), and has expanded to include gigs, festivals and a record label under its black umbrella. Come on, eat the noize.

If an mp3 is up here, it's because we have been talking about it, and think the whole world needs to know more. It's there to give you a little taste. Then, if you like, check out the band live and spend all your hard earned cash on their records. If we've posted up an mp3 of your stuff and you're not too keen on the idea, let us know and we'll happily take it down pronto.