Etiquette
Reminisce (Hand Drawn Dracula)
Etiquette is Graham Walsh and Julie Fader, two of Toronto’s finest musicians and collaborators. Fader, a renowned singer-songwriter and hired gun to the likes of Chad Van Gaalen and Great Lake Swimmers, and Walsh, a member of Holy Fuck, is also a producer/engineer for the likes of Metz and Hannah Georgas.
So it comes as no surprise that their debut album comes as fully realized.
There are hints of dreamy indie pop, mostly through Fader’s opalescent voice and a taste for melody. She sings behind a dissonant synthesizer and trip hop beat on opener “Pleasantries”. When the reverbed-out tremolo guitar comes in, she could be Julee Cruise singing a spaghetti western. “Attention Seeker” showcases Fader’s excellent songwriting skills with Walsh’s seductive and black-leather-glove production. “Outside In” is the perfect score for a drive through a glittery midnight cityscape.
There is a touch of Chromatics, a touch of Angelo Badalamenti, and a lot of wonderful, sexy sophistication. Etiquette brings out the best of both Fader and Walsh’s work, and that is precisely what a collaboration should be.
Rating: ★★★★1/2
