CD Reviews
When Calgary freak-folk experimentalist Chad VanGaalen started work on his latest lo-fi opus, Diaper Island, he was fresh off producing Women's career-making album, Public Strain. It's clear that those recording sessions made an indelible impact on VanGaalen's own music; Diaper Island has a lot in common sonically with Public Strain (see: multi-tracked, overdriven guitars; ethereal, blurry soundscapes), and the pure-pop hooks are at the fore. Indeed, VanGaalen has a knack for penning blissful melodies — the lilting and utterly lovely Peace on the Rise has a vintage pop glow about it, as does the heart-on-sleeve cinematic ballad Sara. Even the gritty, dirty rockers (Blond Hash, Replace Me, the punky Freedom for a Policeman) have moments of breathtaking beauty. The production is spartan, but that's what adds to its charm. Diaper Island is stripped-down and spacious — and the songs are damn near perfect. One of the best albums of 2011 so far.
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