You might remember Vivek Shraya from a post on this very blog a long time ago. Well, our favorite Canadian indie/electro upstart is back with his sophomore album “Keys and Machines” and it’s set for a release this November! So hold onto your hat and enjoy this funky preview track “In Out” featuring Meghan Toohey.
Your friend and mine, Vivek Shraya is releasing “If We’re Not Talking” as a single from his album of the same name, with some producers gently mutating the song into some banging club mixes. They might start off slow, but they evolve into the kind of dance songs you might expect a kaleidoscopic montage to go with.
Vivek Shraya – If We’re Not Talking
Vivek Shraya – If We’re Not Talking (Ben Mono Mix)
Vivek Shraya – If We’re Not Talking (Rodian Remix)
Everybody’s favorite Canadian synth popper has released a fuzzed out clanky version of the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army”. It has the feel of a polished hip hop group humming in a coal mine. Or a morning march at boot camp with a 20 pound keyboard on your back. Except it’s way more fun.
MP3 – Seven Nation Army – Vivek Shraya
Vivek Shraya is an up and coming independent artist from Toronto, he employs electronic blips and beeps and the occasional guitar stab to create inventive ultra-clean, radio friendly (under three minute) pop songs. Shraya’s vocal capabilities could easily garner him radio attention if only the moons would align; at times his almost ethnic pop vocals call to mind what David Byrne would have sounded like if he had natural singing talent, and while we’re talking ‘Heads’ the whole album has that light poppy feeling that wouldn’t be out of place on the last few Talking Heads albums. Could a cover of “And She Was” be in the pipeline? Anyway, Shraya compiles several seemingly disparate styles into a unique cohesive whole. it’s interesting that he’s backed up his catchy polished pop with Gary Numan-lite style synthesizers. I don’t know what else he would use to flesh out his songs but the electronics certainly bring in a unique crossover element. Pure pop but with an electronic edge; a good example would be “Chemistry” (4), which sounds like the Donna Summer classic “I Feel Love” crossed with Nine Inch Nails’ “Closer”. There is also the woozy Bowie-esque “Fevered”(3) that sounds like Suffragette City with keyboards. Other highlights of the album include the punchy “Your Name”(2) which features guest vocals from Sarah Quin of Tegan and Sarah Fame, Her rhythmic chiming adds an interesting flavor and texture to the groove. The catchiest cut on the album in my opinion would have to be the album’s namesake track “If We’re Not Talking” (8), which has a similar psuedo-musak feel that made Royksopp’s “Remind Me” with Erlend Oye so memorable. Overall, the brief format of Mr. Shraya’s songs and their cleanliness leaves you wanting more. Like a light but enjoyable breakfast.
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