“Speak to Me Bones”
from the EP Applause Cheer Boo Hiss
2006
iTunes
MP3 – “Speak to Me Bones” [right-click/save-as]
The Montreal-based three-piece Land of Talk unfortunately missed the boat two years ago when the French-Canadian city was praised as a new musical hotbed. Canadian bands like Arcade Fire, the Dears, the Stills, Broken Social Scene, and Metric received all the hype and attention, while Land of Talk’s first EP, Applause Cheer Boo Hiss, just debuted this month. But, better late than never, as they deserve just as much recognition, maybe even more, for not jumping on the bandwagon.
Fronted by singer Elizabeth Powell, Land of Talk is one of the few female-fronted bands of Montreal and it’s her piercing, PJ Harvey-esque voice that makes Land of Talk stand out in the first place. Musically, the band is very similar to their counterparts, which is sort of the point of the whole Montreal obsession. But it’s Powell who can make this band sound as though it’s from anywhere (maybe wherever the Land of Talk is) and garner plenty of Applause.