Johnny de Courcy is a rock and roll tapestry. There are threads of the blues, gilded metal beads, and psychedelic paisley all woven together with the melodies of a bygone era.
Recorded over eight days in isolation in the Okanagan with Malcolm Biddle and Matt Kyrsko (Dada Plan), you get the feeling that this album was graced by a divine intervention: It is manic, with emotional peaks and valleys, and an unwavering pop sensibility.
Guitarist Michael Kraushaar sparks fire in “Wind Chimes” with one hell of a solo, and de Courcy boldly weaves in his influences, with a wink and a nod to Heart's "Barracuda" in opening track “I Can't Be That Man”, almost daring you to cry "plagiarism!"
"Southern Plain" procures a distant Chris Isaak-esque romanticism, and when he sings “I've seen things that will take you away”, you actually believe him.
Alien Lake is a welcome addition to the ever expanding de Courcy canon. JdC is a pop prince, and at present time, he is one of Vancouver's best kept secrets. But it may only be a matter of time until he writes a smash and the rest of the world catches on to this fine young cannibal.
Neptoon Records
★★★★
