I haven’t heard a more desolate soundscape than “White Canoe” in a long time. Echoing Neil Young, and his fierce plagiarists, America, Western Media are not a group/project in a rush to prove themselves through their singles.
It takes nearly a whole minute before the mist of the guitar breaks long enough for the world-weary vocals to enter the frame. Listening to it feels like swimming in quicksand, with each new sung syllable pulling you further down. The fact that all the music was recorded in a single room, with the use of a single mic feels appropriate.
Western Media works in setting up the mood and then letting the listener soak in that atmosphere for the remainder of the tune. Numerous dream-pop and lo-fi acts try to do the same, but few sound as convincing as this song right here.
