Karma Controllers - Sirens

The littlest big band you've ever heard comes in the form of Toronto's Karma Controllers. Helen Kuan and Jack Jamieson have been playing music together since high school and they're clearly influenced by the likes of Cole Porter and Cab Calloway, as much as they are with Jenny Lewis, Sondre Lerche and Stars.

I basically love this album. The guy-girl harmonies are great and the song structures are sublime. The band would've been great if they chose to go the typical indie pop route. but the fact that they add a touch of jazz (thanks in big part to Jesse Paul's percussion,) kicks their CD up to a whole new plateau that has been mainly untouched elsewhere.

The album opens with the rock by way of mandolin tune 'The Longest Year,' which is cool, but merely just a coming attraction popcorn ad before the main feature hits the screen. 'Searchlights 1' shows off a slight rockabilly bounce and a remote Gordon Gano warble. Track 3 is entitled 'Whisper Sister' and is probably my favorite song on the album. Helen's voice starts off all subtle and hypnotic before the song kicks into full big band shuffle and turns into a saxophone/trumpet assault to the solar plexus. Another song along the same lines is 'Don't Do It, Jack,' where Helen plays the part of the voice of wisdom, while Jack plays the role of the dude who has a little trouble thinking with his head when confronted with the all-too-powerful femme fatale. Sounds like an old film noir? Well, it plays out like one as well. Awesome tune. I could go on and on about all of the tracks on this CD but the best thing you could do is simply check it out for yourself.

Download: Whisper Sister mp3
Video: 'Searchlights 1' @ Rancho Relaxo on youtube
Myspace: Karma Controllers