TOPS Deliver With Retro-Stylish “Picture You Staring”

TOPS

Portland – For most of you who are reading this, the grand city of Montreal is best known as “that place where Arcade Fire came from.” It comes as no surprise then that the Montreal music scene has been steadily catching fire, in part due to the prominent artistry of acts such as Braids, Majical Cloudz and Grimes, all of whom are signed to local label Arbutus Records. This is no accident; Arbutus has been growing its artist base with powerhouse local acts that represent the scene and the culture of a thriving music culture. Until recently, one such Arbutus artist has been criminally under-represented in the U.S. That would be TOPS, a modest synth-pop band with an uncanny knack for expertly crafted pop tunes. Their new record, Picture You Staring, is chock full of inspired hits, and provides the perfect jumping-on point for those unfamiliar with the Montreal group. Rooted in the jazzy sway of the 20′s, the smoky lounge acts of the 50′s and the soft rock of the 80′s, TOPS are at once retro-stylish and immediately now.

The immaculate four-piece is headed by singer Jane Penny, who pairs her velvety-sweet voice with a reserved girl-next-door attitude. She’s a singer who always seems to have a love confession on the tip of her tongue, but can’t manage to spill it anywhere but a diary page. Penny is backed by David Carriere on guitar, who pulls off sharp punky jabs with an unmistakable jazz sway. Drummer Riley Fleck joined in 2011, and the group was soon writing and recording their first record, Tender Opposites, at the La Brique loft space. The smooth sub tones found on Picture You Staring are courtesy of bassist Madeline Glowicki, who was enlisted just for the occasion. Together TOPS are moving the hearts and feet of Montreal’s indie community, who quickly latched onto the band’s charming swagger and earnest songwriting.

All it takes is one listen to lead single “Ways To Be Loved” to understand the kind of magnetic force that TOPS are. The song is a whirlwind of funky guitars and airy jazz drumming, spirited and free in composition and daring in execution. Vocalist Jane Penny really proves herself a monumental force in this song. She’s got a delicate finesse comparable to Enya (without the hippy vibe) with the emotive qualities of a plaintive Lana Del Rey. The song gets so many things right it’s hard to fault it for anything; I’d call it one of my favorite songs of 2014. Like the rest of the record, it’s just a little studio-lite, which means it sounds like it took all twelve months of recording to get this song right. It is no less a triumph, and should earn TOPS the rightful attention they deserve.

Like a certain Daft Punk record that dropped last year, Picture You Staring succeeds because of its glimmering production integrity. Every kick drum, every lively strum of the guitar is treated with a profound respect. It gives the entire record a bright and clear vision, so that no matter where the song ends up it is satisfying and triumphant. Take the song “Outside”: dreamy and adventurous, it’s a dimly lit, euphoric trip through an urban lover’s memory lane. It swirls and chugs with heavy synths, as if Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away” had been covered by Portland’s own Shy Girls. Other more romantically inclined songs like “Destination” take on a distinctly 80′s-flavored vibe, which further mystifies the album’s inspired roots. Do TOPS sound like Fleetwood Mac, Jeff Buckley or Garbage? The answer is none of them and all at once; it’s this blurring of the lines that gives TOPS their distinct sound, which immediately grabs the listener without bombarding them with clichéd references to other performers.

TOPS Album

When Vogue premiered the song “Outside” in August, they called it “the light breeze your ears didn’t even know they needed.” That’s because TOPS rest on that casual genre line that splits R&B, synth-pop and soul jazz into separate parts. The Montreal four-piece are obviously determined to break down those barriers without sympathy; it’s whimsical pop songs like this that free the mind and assure the listener that everything will be alright in the end. Pictures of You is not picture perfect; the album occasionally lacks in variety, as “Easier Said” and “All The People Sleep” can attest to. They both end up being sleepers within just a few listens. It’s the stirring singles, though, that give this album its staying power, be it the concise “Sleeptalker” or the Police-like “Superstition Future.” Pictures of You provides the kind of consistency and relevant songwriting that modern bands strive for. If Arcade Fire’s Reflektor is any indication, then perhaps Montreal’s music scene is getting too pretentious for its own good. Luckily, TOPS are there to keep the scene grounded and humble. Pictures of You is powerful and viable, and may be the perfect September record to help prepare for the rainy months ahead.  Their North American tour begins October 2.