Review

Doldrums – Lesser Evil

Doldrums – Lesser Evil (Arbutus)

Montreal musician Airick Woodhead chose the name Doldrums as tribute to the children’s book The Phantom Tollbooth. In the book, a bored little boy is transported to a magical kingdom, where he undergoes various misadventures on his mission to rescue its rulers, Princess Rhyme and Princess Reason. His is one of the most apt band names I’ve encountered, since Woodhead is nothing if not a mischievous little imp whose panicky vocals navigate their way through a wonderland of chopped up samples and psychedelic electronics, momentarily grasping then losing their grip on pop melodies. When first listening to his proper debut, Lesser Evil, you might find yourself instinctively instructing him to calm down and play by the rules, not realising he’s the one who’s ultimately going to rescue YOU.

by Carly Blair