YES, THEY CAN DO IT LIVE
PHOTO CREDIT: Maurice Cohen
We questioned whether the all-instrumental Weehawken combo Royal Arctic Institute can replicate the cool sounds of their vinyl release From Catnip To Coma To Catharsis (“BUT CAN THEY DO IT LIVE,” August 4). The plan called for them to hit four record stores last month. Well, they did, and it was a resounding success.
The Sweet Vinyl Café—on 23 Diamond Spring Road in Denville—is a hip little room, comfy and cool, a reminder of what record stores used to be and still could be today. With its inviting interior, friendly staff, strong coffee and performance space buffeted by multi-colored lights and scarves, its sound is pristine, its ambiance both futuristic and retro at the same time, a perfect spot to groove.
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The Royal Arctic Institute sat outside and when they casually sauntered to the stage, an air of expectancy bloomed. Guitarist John Leon plugged in and proceeded to emit odd single-note riffs like a deranged Hawaiian wedding band. The rest of the band fell in behind him. Keyboardist Carl Baggaley could’ve been louder as his sustained chords glued the whole thing together. Rhythm section—bassist David Motamed and drummer Lyle Hansen—were understated and in total subservience to the sound. And what a sound! If you were watching a suspense movie with a scene of a knife-wielding perp, and you just know he’s going to stab the pretty young heroine, this would be the music accompanying such a horrid scene. The point is, you know she’s going to be stabbed but you don’t know when. That’s the essence of their music. It moves in mysterious ways. You don’t know when a single rim-shot or a keyboard wash will alter the dynamics. Meanwhile, Leon entices and entertains with every single note. Is this trance music? Is this ambient?
It's certainly THC-friendly.