Unessential Oils

Description

Unessential Oils is a quest for authenticity. Fragments of Warren Spicer's existence – traumas and flaws, successes and advancements, moments of clarity and illumination intertwined with routine and banality. We know Warren well as the singer of the Montreal band Plants and Animals, as well as an award-winning director, engineer, and mixer (La Force, Comment Debord, Ludovic Alarie, and many others). Here is his first solo album, an opportunity to draw from all his collective experience and focus on a unique and singular vision. Unessential Oils was created with keyboardist Christophe Lamarche-Ledoux (Chocolat, Organ Mood, Lesser Evil), bassist Mishka Stein (Patrick Watson, Teke Teke, Fhang), and drummer Tommy Crane (Aaron Parks, Martha Wainwright). When percussionist Martin Dicham (Sade, Talk Talk, Mark Hollis, Tina Turner) joined the project, it was the final piece of the puzzle needed for the songs to reach their optimal form. The result somewhat resembles a jazz record in the way the emphasis is placed on the musicians' performances. Several songs are rather minimalist in terms of composition, but their execution is at the heart of this album; there is space for embellishments and improvisations. This is not a cerebral album, but rather an emotional work. The album is a construction, from sound design to arrangements to musical choices. All these elements are as crucial to Warren as the composition of the music and the writing of the lyrics.