The Buttless Chaps
Where Night Holds Light
(Mint)
This British Columbia four became five with the addition of “Great Aunt” Ida Nilsen. Her keyboards and harmony vocals with David Gowans make his meandering compositions a touch more compelling. If Joy Division had moved to Lotus Land and dealt with their demons less urgently, a record like this might have been the result. “The Poacher” is one Shadows-cum-Chet Atkins hook that would like to punctuate your idle thoughts for years. The album improves remarkably with each listen, making it the type of disc that moves from the suck pile to soul salve, provided you can listen with a little patience. The cover art by Leigh Hoban superbly suits the title and is a true inducement to explore the Chaps’ songs about solitude and drifting.
—Doug Taylor
categories: Canadian artist
This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.