Album: Present
Artist: Cockatoo
(Independent)
Three-and-a-half stars (out of five)
The title of Cockatoo’s full-length debut, Present, refers to the here and now, but I’d like to think of it more as an early Christmas gift. The Edmonton rockers, led by singer and 12-string guitarist Robyn Bright, create an intoxicating world of dreamy post-punk melodies, spacious, sometimes tribal-flavoured drums, and intricate yet understated bass lines. “My world is a snow globe, keeps shaking in your hands,” she sings during a brief pseudo-reggae breakdown on Barricades. “I’m drowning in love and joy,” she chants on Abyss, accompanied by slow, deep drums, eerie synths, and bass burbles. For all the layers of gauzy goodness, which can sound a little too samey, Bright’s flexible voice — husky, haunting, heavenly — is the real star of this 12-song album. Stream Present via Bandcamp. Bright and her birds perform Wednesday at The Buckingham, 10439 Whyte Avenue, with Rhythm of Cruelty. Showtime: 9 p.m. Admission is free.
