It’s not surprising that Canadian dream-pop duo Memoryhouse started as a multimedia project. The first flawless notes delivered by composer and guitarist Evan Abeele and photographer and multi-instrumentalist Denise Nouvion firmly solidified them as a band rooted in aesthetics. Those shimmering guitar chords and throbbing synths, accompanied by the skilled beats of a guest drummer, filled Schubas’ cozy space last week with the type of thoughtful prettiness normally reserved for more visual media.
Fortunately, what might be mistaken for empty artiness was saved by the pair’s warm sound. Abeele’s lush guitar riffs lent each verse a breathless, swoony atmosphere, inspiring the crowd to sway like teenagers at prom. The vocals were equally remarkable – Nouvion’s clear tones evoked singers like Kathryn Calder and Victoria Legrand while still remaining distinct. While her singing was sometimes overshadowed by fuzzy reverb, the overall tightness of the harmonies gave ample oompf to set highlights “Quiet America” and “The Kids Were Wrong.”
Perhaps nodding to their photographic roots, Memoryhouse performed in front of projected black and white videos depicting crashing waves, backstroking swimmers, and one hopelessly lost seal. The overall effect was striking, but clashed with the music at times - for a band with such incandescent ambiance, the images seemed awfully monochromatic. Nouvion freely acknowledged that this was their first time playing with the video, which could account for some of the disconnect.
A similar “first night of the tour” vibe was present during some portions of the set; besides some minor flubs at the start of songs, Abeele and Nouvion seemed slightly nervous bantering between numbers, and kept most talk to a minimum. When called back for an encore, they admitted that they didn’t have much prepared. After a quirkily sultrified rendition of The Police’s “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,” they quickly exited to a self-deprecating, "That really is all we know."
In spite of the band's apparent newness to this type of gig, they turned in an evening full of charm. The set was short, sweet, and left onlookers wanting more. Gaining buzz and confidence is easy when you have talent, and Memoryhouse has it in spades.
Memoryhouse's debut album "The Slideshow Effect" is out now on Sub Pop
