Small Opera & Their Transcendent EP- 'New River'
By Keir Nicoll
This six-song offering from the prairies to the wet-coast hailing Jason Bienia, band-leader and his wife, Shadi Toloui-Wallace, and the gifted Greg Coles on standup bass. The impressive trio delivers a collection of transcendent and uplifting numbers. Small Opera is the alias for this group of people, who have released New River, their debut EP. This music is inspired by “the grandiose nature of seemingly small moments.” This is Bienia, turning a corner, from his previous work with experimental and art-rock bands, earlier on, in the 2000s, in bands such as Samuel the Black Shaman. His songs share in the chaos of the personal and external environment, in the modern-day. His history spans metal to lounge to noise-art rock.
The album opens with “And Conversation,” with strings and then serene guitars and vocals, forming a drifting presence of the song. It is a rapturous song, of being called by a shifty smile and lazy thighs – lovers and conversation. Although, he sings, “I don't know why you don't tell me everything is going to be ok.” In the next song, in a moment of love, Leonard-Cohen-esque background vocals, from Toloui-Wallace, and soaring guitar-lines, describe a “French Beret,” being laid on the windowsill. Bienia quietly intones, “I fall.”
Finger-picking guitars and slowly dropping drums accompany some tracks, such as “Golden Ground,” where there is a presence and juxtaposition, between singing and kind of yelled spoken-word, as there is a ruminant, similar contrast of the same elements, in the title track, “New River.” He sings of worshipping the 'golden ground' you walk upon. In “Just Crush,” there is the old, “lay your body down and crush me again,” to inform of the beginning poetry of the morning and nighttime explorations of experiences. Looking for space to breathe, there are lovely, hauntingly-sung background vocals here.
The title track, “New River,” sings, “feels like love is sung, feels like a bad dream is spoken.” This song is about the winter wind blowing, the elements of nature and the questioning of things, including god. It is a treatment and a little off-key treatment of “guardians above that shelter.” Lastly, the reference to David Lynch is contained in the title of, “Over Mulholland.” Herein, Bienia sings, under the stars, “praying for peace in the dark,” calling out. Behind, there are very contemporary backing vocals. Again, a moment is recalled, this one of the colouring of the skies, “love is growing, in the bright-cool dawn.”
Bienia and Small Opera's music span the gamut of human emotion and experience, from calm to complex. They are inspired by local legend Destroyer and heartstring pucker, Gord Downie, on his solo albums. There is something so uplifting and powerful about this album that takes you to a simpler place and time.