Bodies of Water
Mohawk Patio, Thursday, March 13If the Polyphonic Spree can capture an audience with 25-plus people onstage, new Secretly Canadian signees Bodies of Water should be able to do it with five. And they did but not until the last song of a terribly confusing set. With a hyperactive Meredith Arthur behind the blasting organ, BOW manically swept through mainly unreleased tracks, constantly searching for a rhythm. It was like watching an elementary-school choir recital. “We Are Co-Existors,” from self-released debut Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink, reached a zenith but backed off as soon as frenzy reared. If you’re going to be a vocal group, and the four core members all sing, you better concentrate on vocals. With four mics set to the same levels, the jubilation got lost, leaving only an unruly mess to clean up. When guitarist David Metcalf took the vocal reins on invigorating set closer “These Are the Eyes,” the toddler crew finally reached its goal. Their adolescent vocals and excessive energy are endearing, but they need to find a center. Otherwise, they come off as half commercial jingle, half Spaceballs. In a couple of years, they could be a synchronistic vocal symphony.
This article appears in March 14 • 2008.