Hexes & Ohs are a Montreal group comprised of Heidi Donnelly and Edmund Lam. The main theme you read about their relationship is that they've been together for over a decade and were in fact high school sweethearts. I'm always impressed by people who were high school sweethearts and have actually stayed together. I know of maybe one or two couples that are in this same situation and you wonder how it is that they've been able to maintain that freshness since clearly a highschool mentality is different from when you're in your late 20s. Of course, I've now turned this review into my theories on relationships. Time to move on.
Ok, one more tangent. What is IN the water in Montreal that seems to breed great music? Arcade Fire? The Stills? Beast? The Dears? Stars (to a lesser degree)? Someone bottle that water up, turn it into beer, and send me a case.
The album in question is Bedroom Madness (available for download at your favourite legal music download site and iTunes). Published by Noise Factory Records.
Heidi and Edmund's vocals play well off of each other. The music is fun, light, pop-py, but the lyrics sometimes belie the happy notes. Something I've loved ever since I heard the dark ominous lyrics the Smiths wrapped around with sugar coated tunes. Heidi's vocals remind me of the melodic sounds Amy Milan puts into Stars and a teeny tiny, little bit of Miki Berenyi (Lush, there's a blast from the past for all you kids out there) and Emily Haines thrown into the mix (I have to put Emily Haines into a post, just have to. Emily, call me!). Edmund's vocals are no slouch either. He'll never be the lead singer of Alexis on Fire, but who'd want him to be screaming with this kind of music (sorry George, i really can't do the screaming).
The album's main single, H-h-highschool is great! Catchy and definitely brings back those great memories of highschool....Maybe not. When they sing "Awkward and deranged, the same old skinny kid from highschool" I'm thankful I got over the skinny part, the deranged aspect is debatable. Let's be clear here. I went to a Catholic boys highschool. now THAT'S awkward.
The rest of the album is dotted with catchy tunes, from the upbeat Wildfire, Little Bird (great banjo at the beginning), the kon kan (another blast from the past for you kids) beats of Seems so Elementary, Try so Hard, and Not Arriving. The album doesn't let you drop the proverbial pop head sway (you know the sway...bob left and right to the beat, you know it..you just won't admit it).
There are some weaker tracks on the album (you're a hologram, ship going down, still adore you ), but it's not enough to take away from the album's fun and thoughtfulness.
Songs like Suspicion, Looking to fight, and we remain, go through thoughts on relationships and their good and bad (mostly bad) times. Wait, I've got it! The secret to maintaining a highschool relationship for more than a decade....is to write all the bad scenarios in song. If you can sing about it, you don't have to live it! A strange cathartic endeavour? (Karoake bars take note, you have the secret to life long relationships!!).
Notable track: In High Places
This album is great. Definitely catch a listen on their website and if you like it, support some great Canadian music.
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