Word of Freelove Fenner’s general greatness is spreading like a badly kept secret in Montreal and on certain street corners of the Internet. Thankfully for all of us the band has just released a short EP of exciting new tunes called Pineapple Hair, available on BandCamp and on cassette tape via Fixture Records. I’m not exaggerating one bit in referring to the collection’s brevity: the longest track clocks in at a scant 2:08, making the listener go back for repeat listens to get their fill. Each of Pineapple Hair’s tunes is a confidently crafted work of gentle psychedelic pop rock music, laced up with Peter’s pleasantly tactile guitar licks with edges you can feel thanks to the clear tones and the help of a short delay effect. The rhythm section is cleanly precise and minimal with bass thickening the stock of each tune and drums neatly salt and peppering the broth with a savory dryness. Caitlin’s coolly pretty voice delivers each line in a precise, unfussy fashion and the effervescent effect applied to them is a well-chosen contrast to the guitar. An upright, apartment-style organ seems to have also been tickled into participation. This grocery list of greatness extends to the songwriting: not a moment is wasted and each part moves smartly into the next with all the hooky-ness pop should have. Song titles and lyrics are pleasant to contemplate and sing along with, especially when gazing at the gorgeous cassette cover: this is an object you want to handle or pack into the car before a road trip. The sixties pop influence on the band is apparent as they borrow from the earlier era’s sonic aesthetics as well as song craft- some of the melodic tricks are familiar, comfortable. However, Freelove Fenner succeeds where others do not, as this influence is well-integrated into a musical style all their own and that make them stand out from the pack of other contemporary pop rock tape-recorded bands.
