Concerns Of Wasps And Willows. The Corner Laughers

The Corner Laughers is one of the weirdest band names I've encountered over the past decades. Based on the music the band presents us, I can image the members laughing all the way home from the sheer joy of playing it.

How to describe this music? The Corner Laughers blends a host of influences into its songs that all together make me want to listen more, besides putting on a smile to my state of mind. It's the kind of music that makes me feel happy instantly. Somehow it is a perfect blend of U.K. and U.S. pop from long ago.

The Corner Laughers are from northern California and consists of Karla Kane (vocals, ukulele), Khoi Huynh (bass, vocals and more), KC Bowman (guitar, vocals and more) and Charlie Crabtree (drums). Together they manage to create a lightness in their sound as if gravity does not exist and there isn't a worry left in the world. Some might call this escapism, but I'm certain that is not the driving force behind The Corner Laughers. The members must love it to find the best elements for a song and putting them into a transparent arrangement and mix.

It all starts with the voice of Karla Kane. On the one hand it's mature and not only because this is not a young woman singing. The maturity comes through in her timbre. On the other hand it has this innocence that shines through in the way she is able to sing, while remaining instantly convincing. The male voices behind her manage to sing with a lightness that underscores both Ms Kane and the touch of the band's music. It brings songs like 'Frank Mills', a hit over here for singer Bojoura in 1969 and Lulu's 'Boom Bang-a-Bang' that co-won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1969 to mind. Pure pop, blending the U.S. and U.K., like I said.

Press photo

The music has a pop vibe as well from a time when a part of the pop music was full of innocence. Let me give you one example that stands out for me. It's in a song that is different, because of the following. The way the piano, played by Octavia Kane, is played on 'Crumb Clean', adds that touch of innocence. It reminds me of the way the piano was used in the romantic singles of The Kinks from circa 1966-67. You will hear the folk and country influences in the soft-toned lead lines of the guitar. Concerns Of Wasps And Willows brings so much to mind, that my head is nearly reeling but before all pleased by what I'm hearing. The Corner Laughers just do things right on this album. 

Single 'Rainbow Cardigan' was the band's debut on this blog and made me want to hear more. That more is now hear and I'm quite content to have invested time in the album. Up tempo or a little more slower and sad, the songs are made in great taste and with a fantastic pop feel. The band may sound totally anachronistic in the modern music landscape, but when a record is good, it's good. Sometimes a conclusion is at simple as that.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order Concerns Of Wasps And Willows here:

https://cornerlaughers.bandcamp.com/album/concerns-of-wasp-and-willow