Canadian Sandro Perri has a fortified balance of seasick melody and enchanting drone when opening his new debut full-length on Constellation with “Romeo Heart.” The ear is expanded in its rethinking of tribal-scapes on “Requiem for a Fox” which at first slithers and then slowly stirs up a thick mix of bubbling percussion. There are some unique Hawaiian guitars and some pure pop riffs, but most of the track is a distorted head-trip that just mocks 70s pop music (can we say Pablo Cruise?). “Sky Histoire” is like a live Beatles concert on the ocean – well, at least some of the strings that were arranged for their film efforts, with a side of brooding Neil Young. Thankfully there are no sappy vocals to go with this as its comparison to Muzak is right on a fine edge. This is easy listening for some, this thirteen minute track is relatively flat and doesn’t go anywhere outside of itself. To the contrary, the closing title track is a dizzying and screechy play of delirium. This is what you might imagine the inner ear to react to after a full day on stomach churning thrill rides. Mind you, it is not the ride itself, but the physical after effects; Well-concocted hints of Philip Glass throughout, a pleasant reference. The violin is passionate, the room becomes darkened and the exit is smooth.
