The Fugitivies - Find Me

By: Gareth Meade

The Fugitives
Find Me

(604)

SOUNDS LIKE: A sweetly sincere gospel/folk infusion with an unexpected spoken word element that is more Patti Smith's "Land" than The Velvet Underground's "The Gift".

Upon first impression, The Fugitives seem a relatively straightforward gospel and folk group, replete with lush harmonies, thickly plucked guitar and banjo, and swelling percussion. Yet, one and a half minutes into the first track "Breaking Promises" from their Find Me EP, an image-rich spoken word takes over.

It's that coup de grace that makes Find Me so intriguing. Over the five tracks it's a recurring theme: to intersperse the softly sweet singer-songwriter aspect of their aesthetic with poetry that each musician in The Fugitives is known and respected for. Indeed the Vancouver- based band boasts multitudinous talents across music and literature.

Combining the two elements is a point of differentiation for the group. Some may find it works and some may not (especially after listening to the solely spoken word "Music" more than twice), but few could argue that it doesn't demand your attention.

 
Stream: "To The Man Found in his Apartment Seven Years After His Death" by The Fugitives

^{Posted: March 10, 2010}