Among Giants
London, Ontario, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2015 | SELF
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I don’t know about you, but Eternal Bummer Records is feeling stoked to bring you its 22nd release, Among Giants’ debut album The Swells, for free download.
The wandering folk minstrels of Among Giants have roots in Huron County and down Highway 4 in the Forest City London, Ontario, but now wander through the 6ix with their woes in big city Toronto. After previously releasing their debut EP 5 Songs & a Poem, a record about the falling in love and falling from grace of musical and romantic partners Dan Steinman and Keyena Marie, The Swells arrives negotiating the difficult dilemma of loving another person while staying whole yourself. Luckily for us, the sound of that struggle is a fully-formed, 9-song twee-folk wonderwork. Shakers, melodica, and Steinman and Keyena’s back and forth interplay make the songs swing from Lumineers-jangle to Edwarde Sharpe eccentricity to Celtic hoedown all over an album that never crosses the line into gooey gimmickry, their beating hearts bursting with an authenticity that only a couple of county kids can muster. Do your summer selves a favour and download this sunshine-y release for free from yr eternally bummed buds.
TRACKLISTING:
1. Movers & Shakers
2. Pages
3. Our Kind
4. Thrifty Finds
5. Wolfe St
6. KC Jeebies
7. Lemons
8. The Swells (i)
9. The Swells (ii) - Eternal Bummer Records
Indie folk is a genre that not everyone appreciates to the fullest, but that's something I'll never understand. To me, indie folk is a budding genre with endless possibilities that puts me in a peaceful place in the summer with calming music and launches me into new beginnings when the leaves change with complex instrumental arrangements. The Lumineers showed us all that folk can play through our radios and fill up large venues. Ottawa's "CityFolk" festival (previously "Folk Fest") has brought names like Neutral Milk Hotel to the public and has also given us a larger platform to introduce local indie folk artists to us.
Although from London, Ontario, Among Giants have begun building their name in Toronto. Their first EP, Five Songs and a Poem, was released in April 2015, and the indie folk duo put out their debut album this month, titled The Swells, and celebrated with a release show last Saturday at The Painted Lady with The Trenches Media.
The strengths of this indie folk duo lie heavily in their instrumental capability and vocal harmonies. The second track on The Swells "Pages" sold me on this band, as the lyrical content of the first song ''Movers & Shakers" did not necessarily grab me. However, the vocal harmonies mixed with the harmonica, the simple backbeat that reminded me of The Decemberists' "Sons & Daughters" made me want to see what they had to offer, and I am so glad I did.
Among Giants is full of energetic, folk-filled sound on tracks like “Pages” and shows they can slow it down on others for a more rainy-day-like sound on “KC Jeebies”. Tracks such as “Lemons” play a paradise-like sound where you want to sit at the beach and watch the waves go by. This interesting variety shows the range of the duo and their ability to shift from one mood to another and reach more than one specific audience.
While I prefer the soul of folk and the intensity of a long instrumental interlude, others may enjoy the simplicity of songs like “Lemons” where the light vocals and simple ukulele sound allow them to be immersed in the feeling.
Among Giants are influenced by indie folk bands such as The Lumineers, The Mowglis, Edward Sharpe, and Of Monsters and Men and you can hear it in their newest album. In songs such as “Pages” the Lumineers’ 2012 influence is very prominent, while the vocals in “Thrifty Finds” gave me a Mowglis vibe. As a huge folk fan in a city of indie rock, Among Giants are a beautiful breath of fresh air.
While Among Giants have played at venues such as The Rivoli, Adelaide Hall and Canadian Music Week 2016, I’m hoping to see them soon. Their newest album The Swells can be found on their Bandcamp and you can find them across social media on Facebook and Twitter.
For fans of: The Lumineers, The Mowglis, Edward Sharpe, Mumford & Sons, Said The Whale, and Of Monsters and Men
Ally’s favourite tracks: Pages, The Swells (I), Movers & Shakers - Narrows TO
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
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Bio
Originating from London, Ontario; two piece wander folk band Among Giants have now made the city streets of Toronto their home. With their suitcase kick drums and array of instruments, they can be found entertaining a variety of audiences with their authentic sound. Among Giants have recently released their full length album “The Swells” in June 2016. Musically influenced by bands such as The Lumineers and Of Monsters and Men, Among Giants have found success within their short time in Toronto with shows played in venues such as The Rivoli, Adelaide Hall and a performance at Canadian Music Week 2016.
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