Saint Alvia - Between The Lines

Artist: Saint Alvia

Album: Between The Lines

Label: Stomp Records

Every now and then an album comes along that feels too intimidating to review, and I just keep pushing it further and further back on my list.  It's not that I avoid listening to such releases - in fact, more often than not they become some of my most enjoyed albums of the year.  But these releases draw upon and seamlessly blend together so many genres and styles that I always fear misinterpreting a band's inspiration - or that I just won't be able to describe the richness and diversity of sound.  This was the case with Saint Alvia's (formerly known as The Saint Alvia Cartel) latest release, Between The Lines.

Released a short year after their strong self titled debut, Between The Lines expands the band's genre pushing tendencies.  While their self titled release blended together Tim Armstrong inspired vocals, ska overtones, a quivering organ, and "pop" sensibilities, their followup introduces several new influences, starting with the lead track.  When I first heard "Run Before You Walk DMC" I instinctively picked up the CD case to double check that I was indeed listening to Saint Alvia.  With vocalists Ben Rispin, Greg Taylor, and Rob Pasalic trading off between hip-hop and raspy street-punk styles every few lines, the track sounds almost reminiscent of The Transplants.  But thanks to a bouncy bass and two upbeat guitarists, I doubt The Transplants could ever sound this hard hitting.  Simply put, "Run Before You Walk DMC" is one of the most refreshing and addictive tracks of the year.  

But most of the album follows Saint Alvia's more familiar sound.  However, unlike Saint Alvia's previous outings, the band increases the tempo and employs bouncier, more upbeat rhythms amidst a slew of soul, blues, and dancehall reggae.  "Roll With It" ultimately reveals the band's musical philosophy when Ben Rispin sings "Well times they are a changing boy/And I know its true/A new generation, oh lord what will we do/You've gotta roll with it, marry old with the new."  While the track speaks more broadly about learning from past mistakes in a dynamic world, the verse's description of moving forward while honouring past legacies perfectly describes Saint Alvia's musical approach.  The result produces tracks like "Romeo," "Roll With It," and "Between The Lines," where every influence sounds fresh, unpredictable, and very relevant.  The best example of Saint Alvia marrying "old with new" is "Mornings In Feng Tu," a presumably Italian inspired, accordion guided track, opened by Rispin lowering his voice to a near whisper.  The remainder of the band joins Rispin for the chorus, moodily chanting "Angels will fall, in this battle for hell" - creating an atmosphere which admittedly had me gently swaying back and forth.  Later a mysterious deep voice surfaces, almost as a bridge, moodily detailing a tale of fallen angels and redemption.  That the track feels so at home on the album is truely a testament to the band's ability to synthesize a track from practically any musical style.

Even now I have so much more to say about Between The Lines - from the smooth country tune "At Least (I'm On My Own)," to the band's integration of a lecture by the University of Alberta's professor Gordon Laxer into their most politically charged song to date, to their insightful and socially conscious lyrics - but reviews just don't provide enough space to adequately detail every twist and turn.  So instead I'll conclude by saying that for me, Between The Lines is one of the most instantly grabbing and persevering releases of the year.  Saint Alvia emits such an aura of confidence when experimenting with seemingly unrelated influences that Between The Lines sounds fresh and interesting after each and every listen.