Culture

 
With a prolific musical and illustrative output only matched by his passionate cult following, Chad VanGaalen seems on a mission to induct listeners into his own insular, idiosyncratic world. Populated with melancholy, melody and wonderfully off-kilter compositions existing on a musical landscape reminiscent of the barren expanse of VanGaalen’s native Calgary and his label’s rain-swept Seattle, Diaper Island is a lovingly crafted piece to the VanGaalen puzzle. Veering with ease from folk-based ambience to jangling earworm riffs, VanGaalen’s skills as a producer are brought to the fore with simple, economic structures rendered beautifully by the album’s cohesive sonic texture, haunting vocals, reverbed drums and chiming guitar present throughout. While VanGaalen indulges in his share of heartbreaking couplets, and superbly downbeat ballads (“Sara”, “Wandering Spirits”), a sense of jaded satirical humour (“Shave My Pussy”) saves Diaper Island from suffocating the listener with emotion, despite the loneliness and isolation of its production.
 
With no obvious weak points, Diaper Island is simultaneously a chilling and joyful listen.
 
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