Madeline Tasquin
Madeline Tasquin continues her brilliant experiments in music with her latest EP “Future Telephone”. A mixture of math-rock, jazz, folk and other influences make this album one of most interesting releases of the year. “Agua Es Vida” is an excellent example of the type of music she makes: a folky, acoustic opening that contains quirky, spacey synth sounds. As the song progresses, we dip into some jazz influences all the while hovered over by ethereal voices. And as the track ends, it has wound up to a dramatic rocking conclusion. The other tracks explore different genres and themes, but overall, we’re presented with a dynamic, intelligent muse on modern society. And communication, or mis-communication, as it may be.
Inspiration for the EP title
Perhaps Tasquin explains the album best: “The lyrics of this tune are paraphrased from actual lines and emotions spoken and felt by myself and my (now ex-) sweetheart in a long period in different time zones, when our words and intentions got lost in pixilation thanks to these future telephones we were trying to communicate complex emotions through. This felt like the right title for the whole EP because these songs are largely a response to the heaviness of 2016 and they carry so much hope and love for humanity and this beautiful planet.
But then I think to myself … who knows if all that intention will land on peoples’ hearts like I hope it will, or if it’ll be “lost in pixilation” somehow. Or just drowned out by radio noise of modern life. I feel like our communication as a species is rife with misunderstanding, riddled with assumption and an epidemic single-mindedness. These songs carry with them a hope that we can regain some of our natural empathy and the humility that comes with some sense of the vast complexity of life and all things.”
Complex music with beautiful vocals
Seamlessly weaving jazz with modern rock, she toys with ever-changing time signatures and complex vocalizations. This is most obvious in “Don’t Should Yourself”, a phrase I recognize from cognitive therapy. Rather than depend on standard pop structure, she gracefully flows from refrains to choruses within a mix of rhythmic changes. In addition, the somewhat out-of-sync keyboards lend an eeriness to the old-fashioned ballad “Old River & Wide”. All in all, you’re going to find this is a passionate, beautiful experience well worth a listen.
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Madeline Tasquin was born and raised in Quesnel, BC, Canada, on a diet of Maria Callas, Joni Mitchell and river water. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2006, she can often be found gallivanting about Montreal. Madeline’s first band experience was touring through the United States as the front-woman of prog rock – Afro rhythm fusion group Antioquia. Since then she has performed solo throughout Europe and the Pacific Northwest. As well she has led various bands in the Bay Area. Her varied musical influences include Bjork, Feist, Animal Collective, Chopin, Edith Piaf, Billie Holiday, Leonard Cohen, David Bowie and others.
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