ALBUM REVIEW: “Cloak and Cipher” Land of Talk

Cloak and Cipher
Land of Talk
[Saddle Creek]

The sophomore release from Land of Talk keeps a steady pace with their first release Some Are Lakes. The Canadian trio fronted by Elizabeth Powell has been around for four years, where they have toured in support of Broken Social Scene, Film School and The Decemberists.

Cloak and Cipher isn’t the next chapter from Land of Talk, rather a continuation in their journey as a band. The sound hasn’t changed much, yet there is something delightfully consistent about Powell’s heavy guitar riffs and songwriting.

The first single “Swift Coin” captures the sweet vocal melodies that Powell has continually delivered, yet fails to contain a hook sweet enough to hold interest. In fact, the whole album does. If you found Some Are Lakes to be a great album like I did, this may be your cup of tea. But if not, check out the video below for “It’s Okay” to get yourself acquainted with these Canucks.

9/19 Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern
9/21 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
9/22 Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry
9/23 Omaha, NE – Slowdown Front Room
9/25 Denver, CO Larimer
9/26 Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
10/4 Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
10/5 Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
10/7 San Francisco, CA – The Independent
10/8 Los Angeles, CA – Echoplex
10/9 Costa Mesa, CA – Detroit Bar
10/10 San Diego, CA – Casbah
10/12 Phoenix, AZ – The Rhythm Room
10/15 Austin, TX – The Parish
1016 Dallas, TX – The Nightmare
11/2 Portland, ME – Space Gallery
11/3 Cambridge, MA – T.T. the Bear’s
11/5 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
11/6 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
11/7 Washington, DC – Rock and Roll Hotel
119 Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506
11/10 Atlanta, GA – The Earl
11/11 Nashville, TN – The End