For someone with a more folk-leaning background, Corey Isenor seems to have settled comfortably into his new folk-pop style on Absinthe & Smoke. Isenor’s gentle voice, coupled with the dramatic flair of the instrumentals is reminiscent of The Mountain Goats, or even The Red Hot Chili Peppers if they decided to go in a more muted direction. It’s a strange combination to think of, but one that works marvellously.
The charm of this album is in the details. It would have been simple for Isenor to approach these tracks armed with nothing more than a guitar the dynamics of his own voice – it probably still would have made for an enjoyable listen. However, each track just has that something extra that breathes a little more life into things. It’s apparent from that very first wail of horns on “Like A Drug”, the opening track. Some strings here, some synth here – little flourishes make for a much more immersive listen.
This habit is never overbearing. Isenor lets his relaxed demeanour take center stage throughout the entirety of the tracklist. The pace doesn’t waver from its peaceful stride, so the songs seem to flow effortlessly into one another. His lyric about “living in a dreamland” on “Teenage Blues” seems to be apt for the overall mood of the album. There’s a dreamy thread that weaves itself through each track.
While Isenor’s voice feels like a central anchor through each song, he takes a step back on “Musiker” to shine prime focus on these little musical details that have been otherwise playing a supporting role. The melody of the main guitar remains unchanged, for the most part, and the steady percussion never breaks, but this makes it easy to really appreciate the little flourishes thrown in here and there.
“All Remains The Same” is a perfect closing track. A few hesitant guitar strums in the opening seconds quickly evolve into so much more. The chorus builds and builds with piercing strings until the song eventually fades out on quiet, somber horns. It feels very much like a grand finale before bringing us back down to the comfortable peace we’ve grown used to.
Show Dates:
09.01.19 – Halifax, NS @ Halifax Waterfront
09.07.19 – Lunenburg, NS @ The Ovens Natural Park
09.21.19 – Halifax, NS @ Avon River Heritage Museum