Propter Hawk - “Theatre of the Whole World”
If you drop the needle onto records like Rumours or The Dark Side of the Moon, there is an unmistakable quality in sound that much of today’s music is simply lacking. We understand that music changes with every generation, but there is absolutely nothing like knowing that every instrument was breathed into a recording by actual musicians, instead of a plugin or VST. Though there are definitely folks who can get something close to it within a DAW, that thick sound of two-inch tape is becoming harder and harder to find, especially for those on a budget. That said, there are definitely moments that keep us from renouncing all modern technology and moving into the woods– meet Propter Hawk.
We found them on Instagram, which is becoming more and more common, even though this also contradicts our statement about technology, but it was one of those days where we were scrolling through the tunes of recent followers. We landed on Propter Hawk’s latest single, “Theatre of the Whole World,” and our faith in the current generation of musicians was completely restored. We’re not sure if they lugged all their gear to some top tier recording facility, but it certainly sounds like this was the case. What we have here is a superb track that, from its first note, sounds like it could be straight from a Janis Joplin record, both in sound quality and musicianship. Please do not let that last statement misguide you; although we are confident that lead vocalist Malorie Blake could hit all of those notes, this is not some carbon copy of Joplin’s voice or catalogue, but it does have a touch of that twang and a dash of that grit. The warm, tube vocals are just the icing on top of this thick, 1970s compression cake.
About the track, songwriter and guitarist Andrew Blake said, "People are fascinated by those who go out and explore the world, but they are a lot more fascinated when things go wrong and how they react to it… Seeing what people are capable of enduring, both physically and mentally – I wanted to write about someone who tries to have that experience, but doesn't quite have the spirit or knowledge that they need to endure it. Once I had that concept, the lyrics sort of wrote themselves. I had the entire world to take reference from." To capture a combination of Memphis soul and London blues, lead guitarist Alec McEachern utilized an overdriven Les Paul and an old 15w practice amp to bring a grungy energy to the exciting track. They also use boisterous horns to get the listener’s heart pumping during the choruses.
As if the performance and sound quality were not enough, you will be rewarded with lyrics like: “I caught mono from a payphone ‘cause I hate to be alone” and “I got sepsis from a neck wound where you sucked out my soul.” However, for the final nail in our seal of approval, I will add that, as I cranked “Theatre of the Whole World” through my speakers, my teenaged son came out of his bedroom before 10am (on a weekend) to tell me that, of all the tracks sent in for review, this is some of the best production he’s ever heard. Press play and tell me if he’s right.
You’ve already missed their September shows, but if you’re in the area, check out these future show dates:
October 21st: The Cameron House – Toronto, ON
November 12th: Tail Of The Junction - Toronto, ON
November 19th: The Dakota Tavern - Toronto, ON
-TM