Back in 2012 the debut album of Whitehorse was one of this
blog’s formative reviews. So it’s fitting to reflect on how both have grown in
the last three years. Just as the blog closes in on 400 reviews, the evolution
of Whitehorse as a recording entity develops into the making of an album
capable of creating shockwaves throughout the Canadian and international
community of ultra-creative roots music. LEAVE NO BRIDGE UNBURNED sees husband
and wife duo, Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland, steer their sound in a vamped
up direction, underpinning an avalanche of spectacular tunes with a firm rock
undercurrent. The sheer immensity of precious tracks make this album an
outstanding candidate for national acclaim and it would not be a surprise to
see it get a Juno nod.
Like every great album, intrinsic qualities surface with
each listen but right from the off a trio of outstanding pieces firmly plant the
record at the core of your listening sphere. ‘Tame as the Wild Ones’ is a sumptuous waltz-infused tune designed
to set your senses alight with a choral melody straight from a melted heart. As
the record hurtles towards its forty minute conclusion, a pair of ‘real deal’
high octane rocking tracks launches the album into a stratospheric alt-country
heaven. Take your pick between ‘Oh Delores’
and ‘The Walls Have Drunken Ears’,
but both see the guitar fully take control with incredible effect.
Luke and Melissa participated in effective individual
careers prior to forming Whitehorse and have only just let the door open to a
multitude of session players after initially driving the duo via their own
diverse guitar and percussion skills. Enlisting the production services of Gus
Van Go has enabled a fuller sound to develop with the outstanding liaison and
chemistry of Luke and Melissa still remaining the core ingredient. Additionally
a couple of intense ballads just preceding the rocking finale show the duo at
their harmonious best in the gorgeous ‘Dear
Irony’ and the passionate ‘Fake your
Death (and I’ll Fake Mine)’.
Although ingrained members of the Canadian music scene, Luke
and Melissa hold a fascination for aspects of the American south and introduce
plenty of moody gothic moments especially within the haunting beat of ‘Evangelina’. The album emerges out of a blanket
of darkness with the stunning opener ‘Baby
What’s Wrong’ showing glimpses that Whitehorse can rise to the level of the
great male-female Americana duos, most notably the now no longer active Civil
Wars. ‘Sweet Disaster’ sees Melissa
lead on an unconventional love song heading straight in Luke’s direction. All
songs are original compositions from Luke and Melissa with Gus lending a hand
to three of them including the thumping ‘Downtown’
which raises the volume with the injection of some heavy soul and a stint from
the farfisa organ.
Leaving comments on the excellent two remaining tracks, ‘You Get Older’ and ‘The One I Hurt’, to the end is just a
reflection of the sheer high quality of the others, although the former does
stand out with a landscape inspiring bass line. In fact they play their part in
making this one of the most exhilarating releases of the year so far and one
that sets such a high standard in mixing infectious musical marvel with songs
crafted to meet the approval of the most discerning ear.
Whitehorse’s development as a recording duo in the last few
years has been impressive and LEAVE NO BRIDGE UNBURNED is a sonic delight successful
in making a lasting impact. This is a record whose enjoyment of will only just
commence at the conclusion of this high complimentary rave review.