For Bright Minds in Dark Corners

There is nothing particularly offensive about Diana Pops’ EP For Bright Minds in Dark Corners. In fact, with a name like hers, she seems almost destined for a career in the music industry.

But while she has all the attributes akin to success - good voice, perfunctory musical abilities, a bitchin’ name - there is something lacking. And it’s not just her. It’s the generation that came after Joni Mitchell who defined much of what we hear today in terms of folk music. Folk music doesn’t get much better than the Great One.

To be fair, folk music is a hard nut to crack. Unlike its disposable counterparts that are filled with the Ke$has and Lady Gagas of the world their songs at least work on a basis of whether they are catchy of not. If they are not, they are most likely wearing some ludicrous outfit that we will all still talk about.

Pops’ EP displays all the elements of the style that she is trying to achieve. Love, loss and lingering are all fully present. Unlike truly poignant songs, however, Pops seems only able to identify emotions rather than actually deal with them. She can pull metaphors and phrase songs interestingly but there is something deeper that can be culled from these songs, which unfortunately the EP never attempts.

Of course, it doesn’t help that the production of the album is seemingly lifted from a Sarah Mclachlan album from a time long since past. The effects, builds and soaring synthesizers that are applied serve only to make the songs feel dated and dreary. Pops hints that she is capable of more in the comparably paired down “Silver Ships”, well, until the unnecessary string build. Then it starts to feel like you’re watching an episode of Grey’s Anatomy.

If she trusts more and tries less, she could very well blow us all away. 

Images via Mike Savage Artist Management

Alex West
		About the author:
		After a five year stint in Montreal Alex moved back to her native Toronto to do her Masters and began writing for different publications. When in doubt she always asks, what would Nick Cave do? Luckily the answer almost always involves velvet, wine and writing. In her spare time she enjoys watching civil war reenactments, sharing her James Bond level charm and talking about that girl who did that thing that one time. Read more of her work at: www.scare-tactic.blogspot.com
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