Release Date: May 17, 2011
Hailing from the Great White North of Canada is Chad Vangaalen, a lo-fi aficionado whose work to date has been brimming with confidence, but somewhat lacking in focus. His latest effort, the cheekily titled Diaper Island, marks something of a turning point for Vangaalen. This one-time busker from the streets of Calgary has finally found something of a niche, setting aside any fashionable distractions in lieu of an endearing emotionalism.
The album’s opening track, “Do Not Fear,” is a surprisingly anthemic tune that finds VanGaalen making use of a surprisingly broad soundscape. Despite the minimalist instrumentation, the song builds a kind of energy seemingly incongruous to the album’s implied aesthetic.
What this reveals about “Diaper Island,” as well as VanGaalen himself, is that it’s better to work with a wide palate. It’s easy for an artist to inadvertently work his or herself into a corner by sticking so closely to an ideal that they limit themselves to mere gimmicks. VanGaalen excels in avoiding pretention and isn’t afraid to step out on a limb. There’s a coy intelligence to “Diaper Island,” an album that’s as listenable as it is eclectic.
From the bedroom power pop ditties like “Sara” and “Burning Photographs” to the bluesy ballads “Peace on the Rise” and “No Panic/No Heat,” to the chunky garage rock of “Replace Me” VanGaalen is able to boast a number of textures while utilizing an aesthetic that generally doesn’t yield such diversity.
His ability to carve out such a deep sound likely stems from his prowess as a producer: having helmed both albums by fellow Canadian lo-fiers Women, Vangaalen proves himself to be something of an authority on this sound.
By shying away from showy conceptualism (see: Dirty Beaches’ ode to pontification, Badlands), VanGaalen proves himself to be far cleverer than his peers. Despite its seemingly simple tonalities, Diaper Island is a subtly intricate listen.
He’s also not afraid to wear his influences on his sleeves. He’s fashioned his Neil Young-like croon to Thurston Moore’s sensibilities, making for an intriguing if not slightly contrived vocal quality that undeniably elevates some of the album’s weaker moments. The slow-churning rocker “Blonde Hash” proves to the finest example of VanGaalen’s bluesy charms merging with his lo-fi receptivity.
Not to be undersold is VanGaalen’s capricious personality. There mere act of naming the album Diaper Island suggests a penchant for sophomoric hijinks, but aside from the album’s closer—the crudely titled “Shave My Pussy”—the record I light on toilet humor. Instead, VanGaalen showcases his playfulness in his music. “Freedom for a Policeman,” one of the album’s strongest songs, is a jumpy number that makes good use of consumer grade sounds like the Casio keyboard weaves its way through.
Ultimately, Diaper Island is just a good listen. There are limited bells and barely any whistles, but there’s something to be said for an album that can play out in a seamless fashion. From start to finish, VanGaalen rarely misses a beat.
Chad VanGaalen – Diaper Island Tracklist:
- “Do Not Fear”
- “Peace on the Rise”
- “Burning Photographs”
- “Heavy Stones”
- “Sara”
- “Replace Me”
- “Blonde Hash”
- “Freedom for a Policeman”
- “Can You Believe It!?”
- “Wandering Spirits”
- “No Panic / No Heat”
- “Shave My Pussy”
