Chad VanGaalen

Albertan singer-songwriter Chad VanGaalen can make his voice sound as surreal and exotic as the strange instruments he invents and uses as the basis for his songs. (A train whistle is the closest earthly comparison.) He also comes to our attention as the latest in a long line of celebrated lo-fi home recorders with a catalog of hundreds, maybe even thousands of songs. But rest assured — though VanGaalen doesn’t sound like anyone else, he doesn’t settle for novelty. He pulverizes the folk-acoustic tradition (with those invented instruments, broad strokes of electronic sound and surreal imagery that borders on the psychedelic) but manages to remain faithful to it at the same time. By keeping voice, narrative and rusty guitar tone at the foundation of his work, he allows his songs — about things like giant blood machines — to take flight and soar over mere gimmick.