Occasionally, you can guess what a band is going to sound like simply by what they call themselves. If you guessed that The Consonance probably sounds pretty good, you’d only be half right. Not only do the members of The Consonance agree on their creative vision, but it is the unique combination of six individuals that gives this band such an original sound.
Originally from various parts of Western Canada, the members of The Consonance met in the winter of 2008 in Edmonton, Alberta. There they embraced their disparate influences, recognized their common creative instincts, and agreed to explore music on their own terms.
The strength of The Consonance’s sound is their synergy: their music seems to be denser than only six voices. At the root of the music is Melissa Walker’s electric bass, sometimes laying down a groove, sometimes playing a calculated melody in her low register. Rhythmically complementing her is Nich Davies on drums, who draws on the traditions of soul, indie-rock, and everything in between.
Melodically, The Consonance draws upon an endless palette of musical colors. David Riddel and Vicky Berg often choose rich melodies instead of the cumbersome chords that most guitarists and keyboardists limit themselves to. In the middle of the mix is Sophie Heppell’s subdued saxophone, often harmonizing with the other melodies. Soaring over this lush polyphony is Jesse Dollimont’s crystalline voice, filling the air with imagery. The result is an inspired blend of impressionist harmonies and sublime grooves: a truly unique sound that defies classification.
In their most recent release, October, The Consonance shows they’re not afraid to articulate their opinions; the disc expresses a critique of society, contempt for mediocrity, and a cry for change. The recording is, as the name suggests, a sign of transition. Their previous releases reflected influences from hip-hop, soul and pop music, but showed some signs of exploration.
Now, after three independent releases, radio appearances across Western Canada, and countless performances spanning the breadth of North America, the exploring has yielded riches: they’ve defined their creative voice, and they’ve shown they’re not afraid to use it. As individuals, they are six talented musicians.
Together, they are Consonance incarnate, and they are much greater than the sum of their parts.
