Lab Coast

[Sub-title:] Gifted bubble-gum merchants at heart, Calgary band plays Burdock Music Hall May 18.

By BEN RAYNER
Pop Music Critic
Sat., May 14, 2016

What’s the deal?

An offbeat object of Calgary-scenester pride for nearly a decade, Lab Coast has grown so good at making a certain species of scuffed-up, small-scale psych-pop that the rest of Canada really no longer has any excuse not to pay attention.

OK, OK. Maybe not the rest of Canada on, like, a Drake scale. But there are definitely pockets of indie-rock seekers from coast to coast previously smitten with the lovable lo-fi output of Guided by Voices, the Apples in Stereo and the whole Lou Barlow/Sebadoh/Folk Implosion/etc. diaspora — and whose ears might, perhaps, prick up as mine did at the mention of Strapping Fieldhands as an influence in the latest Lab Coast bio — who will find lives their immeasurably improved by contact with Lab Coast’s recently released fourth full-length LP, Remember the Moon.

Lab Coast’s bandleaders, vocalist David Laing and multi-instrumentalist (and sometime Chad VanGaalen sideman) Chris Dadge, are a pair of anything-goes experimentalists fond of capricious studio effects, arcane instrumentation, punny titles — “The Pointe of it All,” “Missed Ache,” “Helen Bach” — and jammy freak-out interludes, but at heart they’re gifted bubble-gum merchants who simply have a habit of occasionally distracting listeners from that gift. Fortunately, it’s an endearing habit on the Barlow/Syd Barrett/Rick White spectrum and a huge source of Lab Coast’s charm.

It doesn’t hurt, either, that the live lineup featuring Sammie Smith (Samantha Savage Smith), Henry Hsieh (Cold Water, Crack Cloud) and Darrell Hartsook (Prenup, Sissys) is adept at cutting through the vagueness of the recordings and hurtling the tunes forward with a gnawingly contagious sense of purpose.

Sum up what you do in a few simple sentences

“Lab Coast writes pop nuggets. We try to make tunes that we, as fans of the pop song, would want to hear, and then hear again and again and again. David walks around the city’s streets and parks moving melodies and words around in his head, then Chris dresses them up with chords, rhythms, and any other sounds that catch our fancy.”

What’s a song I need to hear right now?

“Bored Again.” A brisk blast of fizzy/fuzzy wonderfulness.

Where can I see them play?

At the Burdock Music Hall on Wednesday, May 18, with Century Palm and Dorothy Paas. Details here. - Toronto Star

Remember The Moon is the first full-length release from Calgary indie rockers Lab Coast since 2014's Walking On Ayr, and demonstrates the growth the band have undergone in the past couple of years via touring and experimentation with different recording techniques.

The band create a warm, rich, lo-fi soundscape from first track "Hanging Flowers" forward, the rhythm section driving the song while singer David Laing concedes that "You and I relate, somehow." Lead single "Bored Again" is insistent yet melancholic, as wonky guitars texture the music, while Laing's monotone delivery in "Helen Bach" is a stark contrast to his complimentary lyrics, which twist and turn over curious, melodic guitar lines and a steady beat.

There's a charm to the jangle of "Wish We Were Anywhere," on which layers of guitar intermingle over the sparse rhythm section, and it leads seamlessly into the distorted playground jam "James' Son" before the tapping rhythms of "Away From Here" take over. Strong bass and guitar riffs get playful within the verses of "Inside Aquariums," while the title track ups the pace with rapid-fire rhythms.

Remember The Moon is a varied and engaging group of songs that further solidify Lab Coast's reputation as a band who aren't afraid to experiment while retaining their characteristic sound. (7/10, Wyatt Records) - Exclaim!