The J. Arthur Keenes Band - Pamplemousse II 34

As the name suggests, The J. Arthur Keenes Band isn’t really a band. At least not by traditional definition, since it consists of one man only: 17 year old Dan McLay from Toronto, Canada. The music itself does however sound more “band like” (if that’s even a meaningful categorisation) than most other chipmusic. With guitars, vocals, and occasional melodies played by a melodica, glockenspiel or a Roland SH-09, along with the Game Boy providing drums, baselines, more melodies and beautifully programmed arpeggios, I would not criticise anyone for believing this was music performed by a full band, unless they had not been told otherwise. The traditional instruments are very well mixed together with the chip sounds, creating a lush, seductive texture. Perhaps it is sometimes a bit flat or cold sounding, though nothing your personal hi-fi can’t fix with some tiny EQ adjustments.

But what makes this release really stand out is not simply the well executed blend of chip- and non-chip instruments, because that has been done many times before by artists such as Tree Wave, David Sugar and The Depreciation Guild, but Dan McLay’s brilliance in composition and lyrics writing. It’s full of finesse, innovation and playfulness, but always with a certain sophistication and naturalness.

My favourite track on this four track EP, “Dispatch”, is so full of surprises, you can never guess what is waiting behind the next corner – only that it’ll be something good. It starts out with a distorted guitar arpeggio, and then kicks in with the Game Boy to a rocky part, which made me say “Wow!” out a loud the first time I heard it. A breakdown with a lone, slow arpeggio builds up to a heavier part with metal like guitar chords. It is followed by a guitar solo, and then the song makes a U-turn to a Caribbean like rhythm, only to be followed by a more straight up reggae beat with back beat chords and vocals. And the story doesn’t end there…

You may think it sounds like McLay lacks focus or a “red line” so to speak in his music writing. But the fact is – and this is perhaps what impresses me the most – that it all makes perfect sense when you’re listening to it. It couldn’t be any other way, I wouldn’t want it any other way. It grips you from the very first moment, and keeps you equally emotionally and intellectually stimulated all the way through.

During the Blip Festival weekend last December, I remember noticing myself quietly singing the opening lines of “Catfish Lagoon” many times: “This ain’t your home, your home”. Often someone nearby would start singing along. Or perhaps it was me singing along to someone else? I can’t really remember. The point is that The J. Arthur Keens Band had infected us with his catchy melodies and witty lyrics. And he will continue to do so, because after seeing him perform live and listening to this release over and over again, I do not think it is neither imprecise nor exaggerating to call him one of brightest rising stars in the contemporary chipmusic scene – and beyond.

Download “Pamplemousse” for free on Pause.