Duchess Says Issue #37

Anthologie Des 3 Perchoirs (Alien8)

By Jessica Adams
Published: September 1st, 2008 | 4:35pm

The originality of Duchess Says’ gripping songs are not the only unique aspect of this Montreal band. They also belong to the Church of Budgerigars, which aims to promote the spiritual budgie Duchess and such products as psychic lines, numerology, and the band itself. Regardless of their secular connections (or perhaps indeed because of them), Duchess Says know how to rock.

Anthologie Des 3 Perchoirs is their first full-length release, and yet Duchess Says seem to already know their way with music. Their sound lands somewhere between the punk-rock yips and yowls of Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Karen O and the spastic beats and vocals of Man Man. Lead singer Annie-C uses her gravelly voice to multifarious charges; it rides the line between childishly sweet and agonizingly harsh. The sound is rounded out by Ismael (keyboard, guitar), Phil (bass), and Simon Says (percussion) and together constructs what the band calls “Moog rock.”

At a first listen, the songs seem haphazard and unorganized. But after closer examination, it’s apparent that each track is finely crafted and dutifully orchestrated. Perhaps because of their unique construction, the songs are hard to classify — they waver between punk, new wave, and indie noise. Handclaps and energetic keyboards blend the genres together, creating a sound that is vitally unique. The album is rife with passion too; the energy nearly seeps from the seams of each and every blistering tune. The multifaceted approach may not appeal to everyone, but if taken with a grain of salt, it becomes a spastic, carefree dance party. The album is a rousing tidal wave where whatever Duchess Says, goes.

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