Too Soon Monsoon

Jan 12, 2018
CTV Morning Live Interview and Performances of 'Faded' and 'Know Myself' - CTV Saskatoon

Side Effects came in at #8 on Cups n Cakes list of their favourite EPs of 2018. - Cups n Cakes Podcast

Noon interview with Jeff Rogstad about Winterruption 2018 - CTV Saskatoon

Faded came in at #46 on Cups n Cakes list of their favourite tracks of 2018. - Cups n Cakes Podcast

Anchored by keys, hard-hitting rhythms and some massively strong melodies, Too Soon Monsoon come out swinging on their debut EP Little Fire. Musically, this Saskatoon duo favours lush-but-subdued sounds that range between alt-pop swing and tensely-wound indie rock balladry. But the real treat here are Greg Torwalt’s vocals, which show a surprising amount of range, hitting heights that should have fans of the likes of Coheed and Cambria nodding in approval. /CM - Ominocity - Chris Morin

Today we have a duo called Too Soon Monsoon

They come from a mythical place called Saskatoon

They’ve recently released four brand-new tunes

That make up their fiery little debut



From drums, vocals, and keys, their music is hewn

But that’s more than enough to fill up a room

Greg’s voice flits, aches, and croons

While Nathan’s drums clang, crash, and boom



“Little Fire” is the way we are introduced

A torch song with still-dripping wounds

A soul has been stolen, crushed, and pruned

And must be wrest back from its tomb



And when feelings begin to darken and swoon

There’s someone there to lighten the mood

“Balance” is a tribute to those loving cocoons

That even us out and make us immune



Then like the calm before the typhoon

A struck match kisses the fertile fuse

Little fires grow and flourish and bloom

Fueling a love that can never be doomed



In the end though, our wandering has to resume

’til we’re lost and exhausted and running on fumes

Wondering if the desert will end beyond the next dune

Or if there’s any way to get back from the moon



So try this EP, and make it some room

You may find it to be a musical boon



Top Track: “Wandering”

Rating: Strong Hoot (Good) - Grayowl Point - Erik Sedore

Cups N Cakes (a Canadian indie music podcast with a focus on the prairies) included our song Little Fire in episode 90. Give it a listen and discover some great new music! - Cups n Cakes

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan pop duo, Too Soon Monsoon, have released their debut EP, Little Fire. Consisting of pianist and vocalist Greg Torwalt and drummer Nathan Henry, the duo’s four track release plays around with trends from modern indie and alternative pop along with older and subtler R&B influences to deliver a solid debut.

Little Fire opens with the title track, a ballad that, while very well written, does not immediately grab the listener due to its slow nature, making it an odd choice to kick off the EP with. That being said, over the course of four minutes, the song slowly builds in excitement with the addition of syncopated rhythms, vocal harmonies, and shifting dynamics. While it may have been an odd choice for the first track, it certainly is the strongest across Little Fire.

A very close contender to “Little Fire” is the following song, “Balance”, a track which reaches back to soul music from the 1960’s and 70’s for inspiration. The track see’s Torwalt play with a variety of vocal techniques and textures- including breathiness, layered and rhythmic harmonies, and at the songs climax, a triumphant scream at the top of his range- making it a standout for his vocal ability. Unfortunately, Little Fire is an album which peaks too soon as the following and closing two tracks fail to live up to the excitement and innovation of “Little Fire” and “Balance”. Both “We’ll Live Forever” and “Wander” are good songs which capture a fun and bouncy pop feel, but neither left me compelled to hit repeat as the first two did.

Overall, Little Fire is a solid debut record from Too Soon Monsoon which shows potential for the pop duo to grow as a member of the growing Canadian indie pop community. However, the album is not without its flaws, which take away from the overall quality and excitement as laid out by the record’s opening two tracks. - Canadian Beats - Gerrod Harris