On. On

On featured on this blog recently for the fist time with a single, 'Blackmail', of its self-titled LP. Today is the right time to introduce the album to you. ON is the kind of album that falls right in with door and all. 'Break You' is there, right in your ears from the very first second. One pound on the drum and there the trio goes. 'Break You' brings memories of great female led bands of the past decades and adds a new classic to the genre. There's no other conclusion. This song is great fun.

ON is a trio comprised of three veterans of the Toronto music scene. Lucy di Santo sings and plays bass, Steve Fall is on guitar and Dan Cornelius plays the drums. Together they rock with an enthusiasm and power that belies their age and mileage in the industry. They are here to stun the world with their songs and presence.

What I think is so good when listening to ON is that the music has power. Call it grunge, call it post punk, whatever you like. To me this is glorious pop music. ON never forgets that a song takes a melody to be remembered. And ON has enough of these songs on ON. The second song on the album is my proof of point. 'Underdog' is loud, rough, tough, with some great riffing and chord changes and over it all is this great pop vocal melody. As a whole the song is simply great.

In the second half of the album the less good songs are encountered. There arguably is a difference in quality by then. Nothing that makes me turn off the record. I play it from A to Z easily. Perhaps the quality of the first bunch of songs is simply so high that everything would disappoint a little. When all is said, they do not take anything away from my overall impression of ON.

Promo photo by Lindi Gordon

This debut album has been years in the making. The three are friends for years and decided to play together at some point in time and from there slowly but surely built this selection of songs. Together in one place, online via video connections and by sending files by email. The result is a riveting album full of exciting songs that are urgent in sound, yet surely recognises what came before. There's some funky stuff, some powerpop and loads of power as such.

In front of all the music is Lucy di Santo who can have the roughest voice imaginable and sound like a purring pussycat with angelic harmonies. Just listen to another great track, 'Hereafter'. Di Santo shows all her different vocal qualities in one song. Extremely different in a lot of ways. The distortions are off, showing that ON does not not need noise to succeed and convince. 'Hereafter' is a beautiful and great track. Another highlight on ON, with great delicate playing by Steve Fall.

The result is I'm hearing a tougher version of The Bangles and The Go-Go's, but also Nirvana, Veruca Salt and others from the 90s. ON plays it all and is itself in the meantime. This is glorious powerpop.

Wout de Natris

You can listen to and order ON here:

https://onband1.bandcamp.com/album/on