New Music: Sons of Pluto – The Age I’m In
Feature photo by Kristina Vogel
These days, it’s pretty normal for bands to form and dissipate in relatively short timespan. Sons of Pluto are an exception, as their formation at Ottawa U in 2010 began as a celestial collision of various talents that ended up merging not only into a band, but also a tight-knit group of friends. And while their lineup has evolved in the years since the band’s genesis, Sons of Pluto have stayed true to their roots and not let other gravitational forces pull them apart.
All cheesy space references aside, Sons of Pluto are a band influenced by a variety of musical genres and art forms that transcend eras. These include “a distinct combination of classical, rock, indie, musical theatre, punk, jazz, gospel, R&B, and chart toppers dating back to the 50s the band tries to take the best of all of those genres and construct something as catchy as it is meaningful.” Very ambitions, to say the least.
One thing that should be pointed out is that Sons of Pluto are set to release their debut EP The Age I’m In June 24 at Pressed. It seems strange that a band as active as this throughout the years hasn’t released an album yet, but it says something about their prowess on stage and ability to reel in a dedicated fan base with their tractor beam (sorry, I had to). With this album being a few years in the making, there is a lot of anticipation for its release this Friday.
The Age I’m In is a quick 5-track effort that explores various themes and sounds, from facing the journey of time that we all must face in the opening title track, to the dark oceanic metaphors in “Lorelei,” to the crumpling of the earth’s terrain to bring two lovers together in “Mountains.” The album makes its potency known immediately, and draws the listener in without giving away what’s coming next. It leaves us hanging with tranquil reverb-heavy guitar tones, and then barrages us with layered and textured crescendoes. This is most recognizable in the divine title track that that builds with delicate and intricate guitar work from Brian Lee, as lead singer Damien Broomes’ formidable vocals meld perfectly with the instrumentation. Fans of The Dears, Amos The Transparent, or TV on the Radio would surely fall comfortably into this record.
Kristina Vogel’s violin and ukelele come across beautifully, creating deep soundscapes for us to frolic in for a little while. She takes the lead in the song “Mountains,”one that marks the mid-point of the album. Although this track is a serenade with ukelele, gentle vocals, and quiet keys, to me it was one that probably had the most impact. No tricks, no effects to hide behind – just raw emotion and metaphorical brilliance.
If there was one shortfall of this record, it would probably be the track “Black Hearted Lover.” It’s not even a bad song, however the placement on the album felt a bit forced and thrown in there. The crunchy lead riff and rock n’ roll stylings just didn’t fit right on the album, one that is otherwise woven with complex instrumentation and excellent production. Although this one didn’t quite feel in place, the track is somewhat redeemed with good lyrics.
All in all, Sons of Pluto have finally delivered their first album, one that has been worth the wait for fans and clearly a product of a lot of time and effort. Their album release party at Pressed, this Friday, June 24 with special guests Beau Réal. Tickets are sold out.