wordplay: Samantha Donen
image: Neko Case

I challenge you to tell me what a glockenspiel or a Wurlitzer is…without Google’s help.  Want a clue? These two instruments are used in The New Pornographers latest album Challengers. Prepare yourself to be dazzled by this Canadian act. Challengers pop beats are infused with dissonant melodies through out. Mass instrumentation is not a new thing for TNP, though, Challengers uses less synth, found on former albums like Mass Romantic and Twin Cinema, and goes organic with real instruments.

The eight members play a vast array of instruments, including, but not limited to, mandolin, banjo, piano, Casio, melodion, eclectic guitars and tones, sampler, bass, drums, and tambourine. TNP even recruited an entire string section, plus harp, flute and more. Marry all these instruments with their harmonious use of female/male vocals, featuring Neko Case and A.C. (“Carl”) Newman, and it is a good listen.

Challengers kicks off with a story-of-my-life theme, the hook laden “My Rights Vs. Yours” (and features a French horn not even 30 seconds into the new album!). The title track “Challengers” is an embracing love song that gives me chills. By far, “Myriad Harbour” is my favorite song on the album. According to the bio, this is guitarist Dan Bejar’s NY song. The lyrics are funny observations, like “I walked into the local music store and asked for an American music anthology…”

As Case sings, she is almost bantering with the other vocalists as they complete sentences, like, “All the boys with their homemade microphones…have very interesting sounds.” The music sounds simplistic, with a walking around the city kind of vibe, yet, has all these various horns, strings, riffs, and percussive sounds in the background.  Challengers is a continuously interesting album to listen to and will appeal to fans of The Shins.

September 24th @ Boulder Theater

TheNewPornographers.com