Toronto's Century Palm is a synth-driven new wave band whose sound cribs from the cleaner side of post-punk pioneers like New Order and Eno-era Roxy Music, ribboned with a chrome veneer of Wire tinted guitars. Meet You is the band's debut record and sees the group exploring what guitarist and vocalist Andrew Payne describes as, “getting to know another layer of yourself,” after going through a major life change. For Andrew, that life change was moving to Toronto from Alberta and experiencing a sense of alienating anonymity within a major metropolitan area.
If you are going to be stuck inside your head for a bit while riding public transit or while waiting for a friend (or prospective lover, Oooh la la!) to text you back, there are worse things you could fill your ears with in order to help you process your mood. In fact, I would assert that Meet You is more than just "not bad." It's legitimately great!
I'm relistening to it right now, and I'm entirely entranced by the staccato wind-up and release of “New Creation,” the airy synths and gloomy vocals of the Psychedelic Fur-esque “King of john Street,” as well as “Another You” with its wet reverb, washing synths, ripping snares, and moody outro. The highlight of this album though is the sax spurred, climb and stern revolt of "Sick of It." If there is one thing that I find missing from the rest of the album, it is the urgency with which the band lends to that particular track. Get to know yourself a little better tonight in the illuminating shade cast by Century Palm while you greet Meet You at the threshold of your perception.
Meet You was released on Deranged Records back in 2017.
