It Kills

It Kills is the latest project from Halifax-based musicians Lisa Lipton, William Robinson, and Solomon Vromans, the longtime collaborators behind the acclaimed I See Rowboats. Known for their articulate compositions, It Kills’ rare live performances feature carefully built compositions featuring strings, guitar, piano, driving rhythms and passionate vocal punctuations.

The band’s self-titled debut starts with the shapeshifting, “Dragons.” The song builds with pounding toms and howled vocals until suddenly breaking off into a subdued guitar passage accented by icy choral vocals. The remainder of the track follows this undulation, ranging from ornate to intense.

Taking no cues from conventional song structure, It Kills’ music thrives on the emotion driving it. Other than vague song titles, no hints are given to the listener about the nature of the work they are hearing. From the brooding and Gregorian chant-infused “Smoker” to the rousing “Sailor,” everything on the album feels much larger than the elements creating it. It’s a stirring and hypnotic work made of myth and shadow.

MP3: “Sailors” from It Kills:
http://pigeonrow.com/ItKillsSailors.mp3

High-Res photo of It Kills (photographed by Mat Dunlap):
http://pigeonrow.com/It_Kills_by_Mat_Dunlap.jpg