FFWD Weekly
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Music by Mark Hamilton The members of Ray O Vaq are truly in a good mood. Celebrating the long-awaited release of their debut EP, Tendency To Sway, with a performance and party at the Night Gallery on November 4, Derek McEwen (guitars/vocals), Jason Lewis (bass/vocals), Dale Becker (drums) and Barb Noad (guitars/vocals) couldn’t be happier. Through the course of our conversation, the phrase "It’s absolutely amazing to be in this band" pops up more than once. Following their stand-out contributions to the Catch and Release compilation, Modern Miracles In Science And Medicine, the five songs on Sway drift with ease and aplomb through Low-style introspective solitudes to Jesus And Mary Chain-style guitar pop thrash, often within the same track. Clocking in at over half an hour, the disc allows each song ample time to run its course. The trademark Ray O Vaq slow epic build and climax of disc-closer "Wherever She Is" has few rivals in Calgary. In a year jam-packed with excellent releases from the likes of Shecky Forme, Laura Palmer, and Aaron Booth, Tendency To Sway is yet another addition to the growing list of exceptional local recordings. Songs such as "Radiogram" and "Population 1280" have become familiar to local fans after any number of live performances over the past several months, and Ray O Vaq’s studio presentation captures the power and sound of those live moments. "We had a very solid idea of what we wanted to do before we went in (to the studio), and didn’t need to waste a lot of time attempting to figure things out," says Barb. "The songs were very solid when we went in, and I think that shows," comments scene veteran McEwen, known from previous projects such as The Soft Tips. Looking back on the sessions fondly, he defines them as "far and away not only the best recording sessions we’ve had as a band thus far, but that I’ve had in any band. The disc captures the moment of what we’ve done over the past nine months – it’s our baby." The members of Ray O Vaq have watched the city go through a gamut of phases in the 1990s — from punk and metal to garage and Brit-pop. McEwen views the large amount of change as an act of positive foundation building. "The scene is in a very healthy regenerative stage, and it’s allowing a lot of bands a platform from which to leap off of. Three to five years from now it’s going to be truly amazing." Recent personal developments led to the departure of the band’s second drummer, Jay Woolley, another steady fixture in the Calgary music scene. After a long period of consideration and rehearsal, the remaining members finally decided upon Dale Becker as Woolley’s "absolutely amazing" replacement. After leaving on good terms, Woolley’s role in Ray O Vaq is remembered as the person who gave the band confidence in its playing and songwriting. "(He) helped us grow and develop into what we are now," continues McEwen. "His input is very obvious on the CD – he let us know we could play with elements of minimalism and sparseness, which is something we’ve always wanted to incorporate." In Ray O Vaq’s short career, it has already managed the incredible feats of opening for both a Matador artist (Fuck, the sweet pop group with the dirty name) and indie rock superstars Sam Prekop and Archer Prewitt at the Night Gallery. These contacts have proven useful, resulting in offers of assistance to land a highly coveted show in Chicago. With an upcoming tour scheduled for Western Canada in December – "against our parents’ and insurance brokers’ objections" – a new release planned for the spring and a subsequent tour of the East Coast next year, Ray O Vaq is aiming for full takeoff. Filled with lofty dreams and backed by the dedication and perseverance to carry it off, Ray O Vaq should not be missed by Calgarians in these formative years.

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