Canary Complex targets a very precise niche, one that we suspect many readers won’t be aware of. Focusing on honouring the visual kei movement, the American creative collects an eclectic, leftfield and evocative blend of indie rock, French chanson and veiled progressive rock, all declined towards a heightened melancholic outlook and expansive arrangements. ‘A Whisper of Spring’ is the result of such a process, marking Canary Complex’s latest album, out today.
For the uninformed, visual kei is a Japanese music and fashion movement, characterised by elaborate stage costumes, striking hairstyles, and androgynous or cross-dressing aesthetics. That’s what the project’s visual form consists of, a factor that helped create a substantial community of like-minded fans scattered across the globe. ‘A Whisper of Spring’ is likely to grow it even more, with his wholesome take on indie, new wave and hidden shoegaze notes.
At a basic level, Canary Complex’s music is rather decadent and melancholic, the perfect match for his impassioned vocals, also sharing a nostalgic character. Built around a specific lyrical panorama, described as “The Imaginary Paris”, the American troubadour makes ample use of “dreamlike allegories, recordings of interiors and conversations”, effectively depicting an otherworldly, burgeoning aesthetic that’s elegant and daring as much as it is poignant and classically-infused.
Recommended! Discover ‘A Whisper of Spring’ on Spotify:
