Recording yet another consistent and steady release in Become Secret, Picastro continues in the explorations of all things dark, brooding and moody. The album sees the band in their familiar setup with songs based primarily around soft, whispering vocals accompanied by cello, acoustic guitar, drums and the occasional piano. And while frontwoman and principal songwriter Liz Hysen does attempt to add some new things to the record—including more guest appearances (by the likes of Tony Dekker, and John McIntyre) and interesting references to Cormac McCarthy and the Bible—the record comes across as too safe, failing to take the band as a whole into new and interesting directions. Considering Picastro has made a name for themselves by pushing the listener into difficult and unsettling situations, it’s interesting to watch them stay in their comfort zone, producing a record that sounds much like their previous records, such as Red Your Blues and Whore Luck. That said, I would still recommend the record, as it comes from one of Canada’s more underrated acts. Hysen’s songwriting is exceptionally strong, holding in healthy tension moments of love with despair and crushing dread. It’s just that she’s done this before, and I was hoping from something new from a band that has shown time and time again that it is not afraid to take risks. (Monotreme, www.monotremerecords.com) Jeff Friesen
Winnipeg music & culture since 1989