New EP titled Animal Disguise by Serial Milk

 It's early. I wake up feeling strung up. On my floor lies a Bowie book, a Black Sabbath magazine on their elastic fazed out career, a Beatles vinyl and many more relics from the past. Lately, I know that I have to hang on to the present. No amount of old memories will help me seek my freedom of mind and body. The world runs on fuel and god knows fuel burns fast. To look upon the old days is futile. As I brush my teeth, I ask myself what has come out recently in terms of music, what can I listen to, to get a grip of the new age. As a critique or whatever it is I do, I've desperately need to let go of my Beatles Idolization, I can't constantly compare everything to the Beatles. Times have change, the only similarity is the imminent threat of war. War never changes, innit what the old folk say? As I prop my phone screen open, I open Spotify, and bang, a notification comes up, Serial Milk have released a brand new EP titled Animal Disguise. Is my phone listening to my thoughts? Or had I simply already pre-saved it? 

Album Cover

Whatever it is, I'm now faced with the monster. New music, new ways to discover unknown pleasures. Alright, it can't be worse than the first time I tried MDMA, and if ever I get too scared or overwelm, I can always simply press stop. Let's go, it ain't The Beatles, it surely isn't Ringo Star's new album, but it's okay, I can do this. 

A reverb coated guitar lick, embellished with a Edge-like delay soothes my ears. The voice comes on and I think, wait Bono? Richard Ashcroft, singer from The Verve? No maybe more like Geese and their song I See Myself, or The Lemon Twigs with their song My Golden Years, could even be stained of Tame Impala, The Strokes or Arcade Fire. My honest thought is, the singers voice embrasses a bit of all these acts listed. The rythms on some song even delved in The Cure territory wit the drums transitions.

 

Picture of the band taken by A l'affiche Montreal

The EP, titled Animal Disguise, is made up of four songs recorded at Evil Eye Studio in Sainte-Thérèse, the whole process of making took up around six months. From coneption to refining to recording and finally mixing and mastering, endless hours have been poured in. Was it worth it, does this diamond shine or require more polishing? Let's break it down to it's core.

The first song is Opia, a mellow soft core pop rock, a recall to U2 beginnings with Boy and October. It grooves while keeping things steady and calm. A song about vulnerability, seeking answers in someone else's gaze, trying to find bliss and eternal satisfaction. The drum is tight, rim shots add a tingle that kept me listening. The voice is so close to Bono's it's astounding. Louis-Joseph Cayer, the singer, has immense control while Lucas Guy on rythm guitar rides along the drum played by Max-Antoine Hébert. A tense feeling is added to the song with the help of Daniel Ayala-Sanchez's bass playing that collides closely with Mattias Moquin adds the blissful notes on lead guitar that spice up the ensemble.

Up next, Vermillion, the piece de résistance. The song that came out as a single before unveilling the whole EP. Vermillion remains stained with Indie Rock close bond to Pop like formula's such as U2's In The Name of Love or New Year's Day, Blur's Song 2, Oasis' Supersonic and more alike now classic era defining songs. The hook is definitely what got this song stuck in my brain. The intro ressembled Stand By Me written by Oasis, and then the riffs came, the hook was immediately delivered and the rest was cake. Take a listen to it, you'll understand how exciting it was to listen to it for the first time, the whole song is just like a line a coke, intense and satisfying yet keeps you longing for more.

Picture of the band taken by À l'affiche Montréal

Basement and Snowfall were similar to the ensemble. It could have been a bit different if you ask me, but still it remains charming! The arrangements and the tones are delightful and tasty. The voice is blended in what ressembles and Valhalla Echo or Chorus and it simply gets your brain to sit down and enjoy. It's as close as you can get to being high on Morphine. 

Here's the conclusion, Serial Milk's EP Animal Disguise is great, it brought me back to U2's golden days, leaning into a bit of Zooropa while also having ressemblances to October, War and more. Elements we all cherish of Indie and Rock's golden age are found scattered across the songs. This diamond definitely Shines On, Serial Milk might just be what Indie and Rock fans waited for the revival of the genre. The cover of the EP was shot by Zachary Rodrigue, Maxim Richard is the cover model, the recording, producing and mixing was handled by Sacha Rose of Evil Eye Studios, the mastering was done by Brendyn Rossouw. Videos to accompany songs were shot and directed with the help of Orléanne. Thanks for reading and go stream the EP on whatever platform you use.