The Highest Order are Simone Schmidt, Paul Mortimer, Kyle Porter and Simone TB, veterans and ambassadors of Toronto's downtown underground and collaborators with kindred souls Jennifer Castle, Slim Twig, US Girls and Milk Lines.
Three years after the release of the their critically acclaimed and well-traveled debut album 'If It's Real' the band return with 'Still Holding', set for release on August 12th on Idée Fixe Records.
If you are looking for a peg to hang this on then try the cosmic country rock arm of Americana. This is vintage, retro, analogue and authentic, so if those things are up your street then there is a pretty good chance you will like this. In addition, the two things that stand out for me are well-constructed songs and an almost mysterious sounding lead vocalist. Androgynous somehow? A little masculine and definitely feminine, they are most certainly nonchalant, careworn and engaging. Some of these songs remind me of a famous sixties country rock band with a female vocalist that I can't (be bothered) to remember the name of, maybe Jefferson Airplane? Anyway, there is not a bad song among the nine on display and the most catchy tunes come early.
'Hurry Down' is the perfect single, 'Hardball' has a slow intro but when the tune comes it doesn't let up and is coloured with lysergic guitar breaks. 'Slip Away' is likewise pretty memorable. Could it be The Byrds? 'I'd Ask You To Stay' sounds familiar in a good way. There are also hints of The Doors with this band and although this track has a great vocal hook it also has a pretty dark and dense breakdown in it which somehow fits, or the song somehow manages to escape from.
'Keep A Window Open' is the long middle track to ground the album. It's a hit the highway type of track with a nagging riff and one more helluva psychedelic 60's guitar break. 'Warm Front' is a languid affair 'cause "there's not much to do in this border town". It might be the opener on side B of the vinyl?
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'Somewhere Out Of The Way' speeds things back up again utilising acoustic guitars and male vocals. Counterculture sixties soundtrack. 'Taking Off' is similar to 'Warm Front' in that it has a Fleetwood Mac 'Albatross' feel about it and this time it is instrumental. It's a bit like someone noticed the band having a chill jam and pressed record on the tape unbeknownst to them. Well done if they did. 'Stare Down The Barrel Of Today' works as an end of album track but doesn't particularly stand out as special.
I think this album is good so it will be interesting to see what they come up with next time around. I think there is potential to do something great although I would say that in order to achieve that greatness they (meaning the whole band) may need to take the gloves off next time and really let rip. It's not that they are playing safe necessarily but perhaps there is a little too much effort going into 'authenticity' and that is detracting from true self-expression? If you are into cosmic country and even say a band like Cowboy Junkies then you should probably give this a listen.
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