West My Friend
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West My Friend

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2009 | SELF | AFM

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada | SELF | AFM
Established on Jan, 2009
Band Folk Indie

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"West My Friend - When The Ink Dries"

The Canadian folk and roots music world is packed full of talent nowadays. Natalie MacMaster, just one of so many superb players of traditional and contemporary Celtic music on Cape Breton and Prince Edward Islands, evangelists of the Québécois tradition, Le Vent du Nord, and superbly talented singer/songwriter Dennis Ellsworth, also from PEI, have delighted my ears in recent months. But nothing prepared me for the eclectic mix of sounds on this second album from West My Friend, a four piece band from Victoria on Vancouver Island.

A quick glance at the makeup of the band gives little indication of what is to come, Eden Oliver on guitar, Alex Rempel on mandolin, Jeff Poynter on accordion and Adam Bailey on bass with all four contributing vocals and taking combined song writing credits. The title track, When The Ink Dries, opens the album starting with Alex’s mandolin repeating a simple 4 note phrase before he comes in with the vocal lead, eventually joined by Eden, her voice providing a harmony line that lightens the tone a just a little while the lyrics continue to make oblique reference to a series of challenges, met with resignation rather than optimism captured in the refrain ‘Come what may’. The second half of this short song begins to hint that such simplicity is not going to be a defining characteristic of the album. A combination of pump organ and piano, both played by Jeff, help the voices build to a crescendo by the end of the track.

The following song, The Tattoo That Loved Her Anyway, is a much more upbeat affair, notable for vocals that switch between harmonising in a style reminiscent of 1940s close harmony groups and overlaying two different lyrics and melodies. The words, contrasting rejection by a lover with the constant companionship of a tattoo begin to show why ‘quirky’ is a word commonly used to describe the band’s lyrics.

I’m normally loathe to review an album track by track, but I’ll have to make something of an exception here, miss a track and you miss a trick…or two. In the case of track 3, Missing You, the band unleash something of a secret weapon, bringing in guests, Miguelito Valdez and Scott MacInnes who contribute a punchy brass section using trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone and bass trombone. The result, a multilayered sound that brought to mind songs commissioned as movie themes for meaningful but frothy romantic comedies, think 70s/80s Goldie Hawn. Similar instrumentation is used on Thin Hope but in a far more subdued way, giving the lyrics more space to tell their story.

The full brass line up is also prominent on the longest, most complex track, The Cat Lady Song, where the arrangement is enhanced by core band members adding flute, clarinet and recorder and Adrian Dolan guests, arranging not just his strings but also the brass and woodwind. The song pitches the slightly odd ball concept of two cats, who’d quite like to live together, plotting to make a love potion that will ensure their owners, the cat ladies of the title, also fall in love. I doubt it was a thought that ever occurred to T S Eliot but in the hands of West My Friend the result is a song that wouldn’t be out of place in an avant garde rewrite of Cats.

The stage musical style is also apparent in tracks such as Lady Doubt whilst Dark and Deep is more reminiscent of cabaret jazz and, to close the album, Last Call is a plaintive, country tinged bar room lament. But, holding true to their reputation for quirky lyrics,the twist here is that the guy isn’t drinking, he’ll go home and write a song instead. The level of virtuosity and imagination shown on this album is remarkable and virtually every track holds a pleasant surprise. The band, collectively, is clearly inspired by a wide range of influences and styles and they’ve chosen, in the main, to reflect that track by track rather than blending styles within a song. Anyone attracted by that concept will find this album a treasure trove of delights. - Folk Radio UK


"‘When The Ink Dries’ from the beguilingly named, West My Friend"

The band in this instance is the beguilingly named, West My Friend with their album ‘When The Ink Dries’. Any attempt at categorisation of either is at best fruitless and at worst misleading. There’s so much divergence and innovation in their music it’s best to listen, go with the flow and enjoy the experience.

That flow includes contemporary folk grown from long established roots, explorative lyrics, fresh and exciting four-part harmonies. There’s also an individual melange of music and style that embraces levels of eclecticism some might find hard to cope with, while others will fall rapidly under its spell. Those responsible for the incantation are Eden Oliver (guitar, flute, vocals) Alex Rempel (mandolin, vocals) Jeff Poynter (accordion, vocals) and Adam Bailey (bass, vocals) plus the selected inclusion of horn and string sections.

The title track ‘When the Ink Dries’, with its clear eco-warning, sets you into your journey with the band, leading into ‘The Tattoo That Loved Her Anyway’ with the signature vocal complexity and instrumental dexterity that marks their style. Eden Oliver's startling voice opens the expansive ‘Thin Hope’ and through blending of horns into the mix, it creates a multi-layered experience. There’s a more accessible touch to ‘My Lover’, filled with a bouncy ebullience that cannot fail to attract a contrast to the mix of kindness and belligerence within ‘Lady Doubt’, and the inexplicably enjoyable narrative of ‘The Cat Lady Song’.

West My Friend and their album ‘When The Ink Dries’ presents style, invention and originality, certainly worth taking time to absorb. - FolkWords, Rickmansworth UK


"James Dineen"

West My Friend instantly affects a feeling of familiarity. Their broad take on folk not only encompasses traditional folk from Cape Breton, but moves into the coffee houses San Francisco in the 60s. And hey, let's throw some cabaret in there for good measure. Folk is merely a jumping off point leading to gems like the majestic fanfare of "Missing You" and more intimate numbers like "Ode To Sylvia Plath". There is a certain whimsy to some of their work, but it isn't foolish at all. Rather, it describes a broad range of emotions without apologizing for their hand in the result of said emotions. This album is the culmination of some pretty stellar musicians that are very comfortable speaking each others' languages. When The Ink Dries is a stunning follow up that proves that West My Friend won't be in the shadows for long. - KZME Radio, Portland, Oregon


"Jo-Ann Roberts"

This album is a rare gem that brings together the best of so many things... there's echoes of old world klezmer music, anthems that soar like Broadway show tunes, and vocal harmonies that would be envy of the best old-time bluegrass bands. It's all wrapped up with beautiful mandolin and accordion notes that have me hitting the repeat button. - All Points West, CBC Radio


"Roberta Lavadour"

This was our audience's first introduction to West My Friend, but it only took a matter of seconds for them to fall in love with this band. Clever songwriting, great vocals and masterful musicianship is always a great combination, and mixed with the natural charm of each of the bandmates, it made for a really memorable night of music.

Roberta Lavadour
Executive Director, Pendleton Center for the Arts - Pendleton Center for the Arts


"Genevieve Dale"

Their live performances are excellent, and very engaging. The band is clearly very well-rehearsed and dedicated to giving their audiences a meaningful and memorable experience. - CFUV 101.9FM


"Kyle Wells"

With a brand new album and a Vancouver Island Music Award nomination, local indie folk band West My Friend is going places, and using its own power to get there. - Victoria News


"Jason Stasiuk"

West My Friend provides a great outing on their first full length album, Place, drawing inspiration from many different styles and showing off their ability to play create lush indie, emotional folk, with a bit of roots-twang here and there. The upbeat and downbeat tracks provide a fantastic contrast in sounds that the classically trained band is able to produce. If you wish Mumford and Sons had an accordion and a female lead singer, West My Friend is the band for you. - Silence as Sound


"Brad Edwards"

West My Friend offers a sound of true Canadiana achieved via extraordinary musicianship. Eden Oliver's vocals are powerfully eclectic, bridging the gap between east coast Cape Breton and Vancouver Island. - Play In Victoria.net


Discography

West My Friend EP (2010)

Place (2012)

When The Ink Dries (2014)

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Bio

Since West My Friend was conceived in a Victoria café in 2009, they’ve emerged as a unique voice in the city’s music scene. Described as everything from indie-roots to chamber-folk, their acoustic blend of instruments and four-part harmonies challenges the conventions of popular music to create a performance that is both engaging and innovative. Songs are created through a collaborative process: well-crafted and clever lyrics, acrobatic mandolin riffs, flawless bass lines, and richly textured accordion combine as every member brings forward their own ideas and experiences.

The wealth of musical experience and classical training in the group creates an interesting backdrop for their songwriting, allowing for levels of detail, intricacy, and counterpoint balanced with moments of simplicity. This sonically adventurous approach to music defines West My Friend as a key part of a growing movement of the new generation of grass-roots folk music taking place in Victoria, Vancouver and across British Columbia.

The life of a musician is one of continual evolution, and West My Friend embodies this in their approach to music. Their diversity in taste and influences, and a keen interest in both traditional sounds and innovation, creates a need to constantly explore new sounds while placing them as a distinctive voice in the landscape between Canadian folk and indie-pop. West My Friend’s commitment to creating original indie-roots music, and their dedication to giving their audiences a meaningful and memorable experience, is sure to catch hold of listeners as far afield as they can reach. A love for the music of Beirut, Joanna Newsom, Owen Pallett, Punch Brothers, Philip Glass, The Milk Carton Kids, The Avvett Brothers, and The Decemberists adds to this diverse musical palette.

West My Friend released their first full-length album Place in 2012, and it soon garnered multiple award nominations (including “Roots Album of the Year” and “Song of the Year” at the Vancouver Island Music Awards). Their second album, When The Ink Dries, was released in March 2014 and was recently nominated in the Canadian Folk Music Awards for the Oliver Schroer “Pushing The Boundaries” Award. It ranges in scope from intimate moments, featuring the four core musicians of the group, to rich orchestral arrangements that showcase the maturity, musicianship, and multi-instrumental abilities of each member. This is combined with guest musicians drawn from everywhere from the Victoria Symphony to Buena Vista Social Club. The record is a significant step forward for West My Friend; the group’s collaboration with Grammy award-winning producer Joby Baker (Alex Cuba, Cowboy Junkies) and Juno award-winner David Travers-Smith (The Wailin’ Jennys, Oh Susannah) provides a strong underpinning of experience in folk-roots music for this promising young band.