After re-reading what I last wrote about Boat Culture, I don’t know whether to cringe in embarrassment at my overt nautical references, or pat myself on the back and say “Well done, sailor.”
What I know for sure, is that congratulations are in order for the Toronto-via-London, ON four piece’s first full length, Marble. Picking up where Boat Culture left off on last year’s Half Old EP, Marble is a fresh slab of refined jangle pop that reaches back beyond the recent musical past. There are some slick 70s guitar licks on “Cousins” and “Cry” that play off Boat Culture’s winsome harmonies. The AM radio influences add depth and dimension, particularly on the sprawling “New Song” and Marble’s title track, an engaging post-punk-pop torch song. At 5:04 and 5:44 respectively, they are the album’s longest and most anthemic tracks, both verging on being all-out epic rockers. The crescendoing code of “New Song” alone could have a stadium sized audience eating out of Boat Culture’s hand.
Even with those moments of big, arena-ready sound, there’s an intimacy on Marble that draws you in. Boat Culture are absolutely playing to the back row, but they have a wink and a smile for those up front, as well. The ease with which Boat Culture connects with the listener is the secret ingredient that makes Marble such a satisfying affair.
