Left Off The Dial

Review of Creatures All Tonight

Gordon B. Isnor uses the words “experimental pop” and “outsider music” to describe what he does. And while his synthesizer/guitar music is by no means inaccessible, it’s not completely approachable all of the time, either.

Isnor is originally from Nova Scotia, but he calls Vancouver home now. He sings with a slightly uncertain vocal tone, which may remind you of the nerdy David Byrne at times. At one point he borrows a guitar riff from The Who for “I Will Always Come Back,” yet he goes almost completely dance for “The Music Will Return,” which also features Goody B. Wiseman’s angelic vocals. Additionally, there’s an instrumental here called “There’s A Light,” which is not, by the way, that The Smiths song. The disc closes with the title track, which seems to include a barely audible vocal track buried deep within its mix.

Granted, there is an experimental and musically scientific side to what Isnor does. But he’s not a completely mad scientist. This is skewed and slightly off-center pop, but it’s still sound pop. Just think of it as Rice Krispies, albeit sans the requisite radio-friendly snap and crackle.

Author: Dan MacIntosh

2005-08-15