Robert Wilson: Lovers One-Haters Zero

Backed by an all-star cast: John Raham (Be Good Tanyas) on drums, Brian Minato (Sara McLachlan) on bass, Jacob Aginsky (PJ Harvey, Spearhead) on keyboard, guitarist Jon Roper (Spacious Couch, Spygirl), and Eduardo Ottoni on percussion and background vocals, this room is more like an industry conference than a concert.  Considering Wilson's history as a musician, sound engineer and technical director for several venues and festivals in the city, it's no surprise that he's surrounded himself with some of the best that Vancouver has to offer.  It also doesn't hurt when you're a genuinely nice, down to earth dude.  Who also happens to know how to throw a damn good party. 

As Wilson and his band (collectively known as The Blackbird P.A.) perform a few tracks from the album to a candle-lit room, the sum of the parts become greater than the whole.  Each bandmember's instrument sings its own signature sound: distinctive, soulful, precise, clean.  Guitarist Jon Roper coaxes lush, shimmering textures and swank, crisp staccato chords over Minato and Raham's deep-in-the-pocket grooves.  Jacob Aginsky effortlessly shifts from providing ambient background keyboards to brilliant, funky melodies, weaving their own tapestry throughout every song.  Eduardo's backup vocals and crisp percussion round out the sonic backdrop. 

As an instrumental quintet, the Blackbird P.A. could keep a room enchanted for hours.  With Wilson at the helm, they could quite possibly revolutionize the marital therapy industry.  Put these guys in a room with a thousand disgruntled couples, and I'll guarantee you, at least 900 of them are gonna get laid that night.  With a voice reminiscent of the masters of soul (Al Green, Marvin Gaye, even Sade(!!) Wilson tells his personal tales of love, loss, reflection, acceptance, and growth, with clever lyrics, a truly impressive range and a sharp sense of humor.

I have seen him perform as a solo artist, and can honestly say he is a one-man wonderwall of sound, but as a bandleader, he really shines.  With the benefit of a fantastic backup band, Wilson can relax a little, grab a tamborine, snap his fingers, or just grin from ear to ear and listen to his music come to life around him.  Or he can just kick it all up a notch and play a few songs on the acoustic guitar. 

Most of the live band perform on the album, which was written by Wilson and recorded at John's Ogre studios in Vancouver over the course of five days.  Amazingly enough, all the drums, bass, keyboards, and electric guitar were cut in a single take.   Judging by the performances on the album, Wilson got his money's worth, and then some.

Not only has Wilson gathered some world-class musicians tonight, (and provided some awesome hors d'oeuvres!!)  he has arranged for a post-performance "Anatomy of a Song" session, in which he and co-producer/drummer John Raham, explain the recording process of the CDs fourth track: "Big Sore Heart".  And if that isn't cool enough, they are being interviewed by none other than the legendary Red Robinson. 

With the help of a laptop, digital audio workstation/mixing board and a projector, Wilson and Raham walk us through the song, track by track, starting with the solo acoustic guitar part that is the foundation of the song.  Guided by questions from Red Robinson, Wilson breaks down the song to its atomic level, revealing subtle layers of delayed guitars here, backup vocals (provided by Katherine McCandless of Young Galaxy), rolling bass lines, isolated hi-hat tracks, etc.  Robinson, who is a self-described musicologist, has seen a lot of bands and trends come and go in his time, but appears fascinated by the process and technology.  We all are.  Every aspect, every little detail of the song sounds great on its own.  Once again, the sum of the parts becoming greater than the whole.

While listening to the album later that night on my computer's media player, I am again reminded of just how many artists Wilson can draw from.  A little James Taylor, Sade, Otis Redding, Fine Young Cannibals,  David Bowie.  It isn't until I'm about three songs into Sade's "Lovers Rock", which alphabetically follows "Lovers One-Haters Zero", that I realize the album is over.

I will play it again.  And again. Then I will add it to my "Sexytime" playlist.  A wise decision.


If you're having any troubles in the bedroom, or just want to check out some of Vancouver's finest talent, be sure to check out Robert Wilson at the Rowing Club in Vancouver, 11/03/09 .

http://www.robertwilsonmusic.com/