Up-and-coming electronica artist Wangled Teb, AKA Indigo Poirier, has released their latest album, Earth. With the entirety of the album featuring a who’s-who of Fredericton-based musicians, Earth is the second in a series of albums by Poirier based on the four elements, the first being the EP Water.
“Whispering Willows,” the beginning track, features local cellist Emily Kennedy. Our introduction to Wangled Teb’s latest sees Kennedy’s cello baseline combine with Poirer’s maelstrom of percussion and dynamic synths. The result is a soundtrack appropriate for an ever changing biome, be it a cave, mountain, tundra, or ocean.
Poirier then works her magic alongside bassist Alexandra Peters in “Tea For Two.” The trademark, relentless percussion returns, while the gentle lull of key synths pair with Peters’ relaxed melody to emulate a futuristic, jazz club-appropriate track.
Following is the cleverly stylized “Stalactites/\Stalagmites\/,“ featuring Chris Giles. With a title that’s right at home in an album called “Earth,” uses a noise-filled bass-line to give the feeling of descending deeper into a cave, while the bell-like synths can be thought of to represent a crystalline glow, perhaps a purple one. Giles’ distorted guitar helps to add a feeling of urgency to Earth’s halfway point.
Alongside Ry Hanson, Poirer then introduces us to “Mountain Cabin.” This track conveys a view of the night sky, undoubtedly visible from the window of this mountain cabin. Whirling synths, Hanson’s relaxed drums, and loud keys may have listeners believing that the stars are right there in their headphones.
Following “Mountain Cabin” is our personal favourite, “Floating Gardens.” This incredible mixture of sound includes drums that are exciting but not difficult to follow, multiple, deep, retro synths to partner it, and a rather independent saxophone melody from Kelly Waterhouse to tie it all together.
Finishing off the album is “Home,” featuring Glenn Bernard. “Home” was the result of Poirier’s desire to incorporate her culture into the album.
“ I worked with Glenn awhile back at PLATO, which is the software testing company I work at now,” says Poirier. “So he performed the vocal and drum part first, and then I wrote the rest of it based on what he did.”
“I grew up on-reserve out at Kingsclear and I wanted to incorporate some traditional hand drumming and singing on my album as sort of a tribute to the place where I grew up.”
Wangled Teb’s distinctive style of rapid-fire drums and arsenal of synthesizers makes for an impressive album, and the teamwork amongst other local artists will even have those less-versed in electronica intrigued by Poirier’s Earth.