Language Arts - Where Were You in the Wild

With it's genre-defying qualities, Vancouver's Language-Arts' sophomore release "Where Were You in the Wild?" is expected to turn ears to a new side to indie rock; celebrating obscurities and word entanglements with poetic poise, paired with an alt-rock foundation yet fleshed out with classical instrumentation. Confused? Don't be- it all comes about very naturally, aided in part by Cudmore's vast reserve of words and ideas, delivered with a "clarion-like voice". "Where Were You in the Wild?" is Language-Arts' full length follow up to 2007's self titled debut as well as their now out of print 2008 teaser EP "Small Run" While charting well on Canadian campus and community radio, Language-Arts have toured extensively around the west coast and across Canada, appearing on stages with artists such as Xavier Rudd, Portable Payback (Jurassic 5), Vancougar and Great Aunt Ida. The band has appeared at festivals such as TD Atlantic Jazz festival, Halifax Pop Explosion, Sled Island, and NXNE. Members Kristen Cudmore and Gregor Phillips both originally hail form Nova Scotia; an ode to their home province is a common subtext to many of their songs. Sitting somewhere between Suzanne Vega and Buck 65, Language-Arts delve into images steeped with secrets both deep and dark that feature sophisticated arrangements and artisan song crafting. Cudmore\'s classical guitar blends beautifully with the double bass and the occasional string quartet. The songs themselves range from beckoning choruses with bright hooks to meandering, lyrical sagas. It\'s no secret that many of these songs began as dreams- insights poke out with subtle nuances, sparkling and inquisitive. \'If all there was to eat was candy, which would be the most healthy? ..and would we even bother, filling the cavity?\' Instrumentation: Kristen Cudmore - Classical Guitar, Vocals (Banjo, Piano on album) Gregor Phillips - Drums, Percussion (Vibraphone, Piano, Synthesizer on album) Hire - Keys, Vocals Hire - String Bass.