When we first heard “The Heron and the Fox,” the first single from Little Scream’s debut album The Golden Record (Secretly Canadian), we knew this was an artist to watch. In that song, Laurel Sprengelmeyer spins a wistful tale of lost love, her timid vocals fluttering over delicate finger picking. And while we would’ve been satisfied with a full album of acoustic meditations, with The Golden Record, Little Scream offers a bold debut, sonically rich and full of thoughtful production touches. Layered guitars, echoing drums, pounding keys--each song chooses a foundation and builds, adorning the creation with pitch-perfect harmonies and washes of ethereal electronics. Co-produced by the Arcade Fire’s Richard Reed Parry and with contributions from members of the National, Silver Mt. Zion, Stars, et.al, it’s no surprise that the strength of Little Scream’s debut has already been recognized by Canada’s Polaris Prize (a long list nomination).
Though it was a long five months between hearing “The Heron and the Fox” and seeing Little Scream perform live, it was worth the wait. Opening for the Antlers at Paradise Rock Club, Sprengelmeyer played through most of The Golden Record, accompanied by a drummer and violinist Ari Swan. With some pedal work and Swan’s harmonies, Little Scream beautifully recreated the album’s often haunting vocals--a nice complement to the headliner’s heartbreaking falsetto. While Sprengelmeyer’s recorded vocals are often shy and quiet, live, she delivers with the confidence of a seasoned performer. Opening with “The Lamb,” she looped her voice and Swan’s over a simple, repeating guitar, quietly filling the room with an angelic chorus--eyes wide open and with a smile on her face.
Although the slowly growing crowd was, at points, attentive, by the end of the set, an unusual restlessness set in. Sprengelmeyer broke a string and decided to tune a back-up guitar for one final solo “quiet song,” she warned. And while the drummer attempted to distract with talk of the Bruins’ Stanley Cup victory, people started talking loudly and heading to the bar. Perhaps it was her annoyance with the crowd or the absurd realization that the broken string had caused her finger to bleed, but Sprengelmeyer abruptly stopped mid-song and broke into an aggressive Aerosmith cover. I couldn’t perceive how the rest of the audience interpreted this odd ending, but personally, it only made me respect Sprengelmeyer’s bold confidence even more.
Setlist:
01. Lamb
02. Cannons
03. The Heron and the Fox
04. Your Radio
05. Boatman
06. People is Place
07. Red Hunting Jacket
08. Unknown/bitter (?) Aerosmith cover
Check out a live performance of “The Heron and the Fox” and a video for “The Lamb” below.
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Little Scream: "The Heron and The Fox" (live) from Secretly Jag on Vimeo.
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