The Provincial Archive
Album: Hide Like A Secret
Label: self Released
Tracks: 4
Website: http://www.theprovincialarchive.com

Despite entering their 11th year this is just the third release from Edmonton, Canada's The Provincial Archive. Serving primarily as an appetiser for their forthcoming full 3rd full length what we have here is 4 tracks of modern alternative music which are vocally reminiscent of The Shins and Calexico but strangely unique in a musical sense. The EP is gloriously dramatic throughout with singer Craig Schram pleading with the listener to keep faith through the repetitive refrain "I'm out of water, don't throw me away". 'Young and Bloodless' races along on a staccato drumbeat with yet another looping chorus.

The EP closes out with a storming take on the long lamented Elliot Smith's 'Son Of Sam' which removes the piano backing of Smith's compositionand hammers home from the first note aiming for sheer power rather than the chaos of the original.

As enigmatic as they are interesting The Provincial Archive are a more than listenable act and easily achieve the purpose of the government department that they're named after…..they make music "the preservation of which is in the public's interest."

Rob Fearnley