Pat Jordache has long been a compelling figure in Montreal’s dynamic noise-pop scene. After making waves with his band Sister Suvi, featuring Merill Garbus, Jordache embarked on a solo journey that culminated in the creation of Future Songs. This album, born from a period of isolation and inspired by Garbus’s independent creative process, is a testament to Jordache’s unique musical vision. Working from home while balancing minimum wage jobs, he crafted a collection of recordings that would become Future Songs, a bracing and brilliant exploration of off-kilter pop.
Future Songs stands out with its woozy baritone vocals, sharp guitar lines, and a wonderfully unpredictable approach to rhythm and arrangement. Listeners will detect echoes of diverse musical touchstones, from the Mercury Rev of the David Baker era to the intensity of Joy Division, the depth of Scott Walker, and the experimental spirit of Can. Initially self-released on cassette and Bandcamp in the summer of 2010, these future songs quickly resonated within Montreal’s DIY music community and spread through online music circles. Despite being almost entirely self-recorded by Jordache, the music’s energy and complexity clearly called for a full band performance, an invitation that many musicians were eager to answer.
In the early days, Pat Jordache’s live shows were solo performances, ingeniously reinterpreting the recorded material using a DD-3 pedal capable of looping just 1.4 seconds of sound. These minimalist, drone-based arrangements soon evolved with the addition of explosive dual drummers, Phillip Chanel, Jeffrey Malecki, and Thom Gillies. Further expanding the sound, Rory Seydel of Shapes and Sizes joined on guitar, enabling a more complete realization of the album’s intricate compositions. Pat Jordache toured extensively as a 3 and 4-piece band throughout 2010, performing in Montreal’s underground venues and occasionally venturing into more mainstream settings, including a memorable late-night set at the Pop Montreal after-party.
Future Songs announces itself with the striking opening track “Radio Generation” (also released as a tour 7″ single with the exclusive B-side “Radar”). Here, Jordache’s falsetto voice initiates the song against fragmented, fluttering guitar patterns before settling into an unconventional chord progression and verses delivered in his distinctive baritone. “Get It” follows, built upon a compelling staccato riff and propelled by layered, octave-shifted vocals. “Salt On The Fields” revisits the evocative Beach Boys-esque falsetto, weaving around a rhythmic backdrop of bubbling wood blocks and chimes, accented with hints of afro-beat guitar. “Gold Bound” offers a hazy, psych-tinged lo-fi folk soundscape. “The 2-Step” immediately evokes the feel of a rediscovered classic from a Joy Division recording session. Closing the album, “UKUUU” incorporates natural sounds, reversed vocals, and spaghetti western-style guitars, culminating in a spoken-word section and a Velvet Underground-inspired doo-wop outro. Collectively, Future Songs delivers a captivating and diverse listening experience.
Adding to the album’s unique story, the original recording sessions were lost when Jordache’s laptop was stolen from a Montreal smoked meat shop. Consequently, the initial release of Future Songs was in a lo-res, self-mastered 160 kbps mp3 format. However, in a fortunate turn of events typical of the digital age, full resolution back-up .wav files were recovered from a forgotten Mediafire account. These files allowed for the songs to be properly re-mastered for the Constellation Records release of Future Songs, ensuring the album could be heard in its full sonic potential.
Packaging Notes
The LP edition of Future Songs is pressed on 180g vinyl by Optimal in Germany, packaged in a full-color jacket printed on 24pt reverse board. The initial LP pressing also included a limited edition art print poster and a CD copy of the album. The CD version comes in a custom gatefold jacket, also printed in full color on reverse paperboard.
Credits
All songs on Future Songs were written, produced, and performed by Pat Jordache.
Featured Guests:
- Merrill Garbus: vocals on track 4
- Jeffrey Malecki: drums on tracks 1, 4, 8
- Zsofia Zambo: drums on tracks 1, 6
Recorded and mixed in Montreal and Edmonton, 2009-2010. Originally released on cassette in 2010. Remastered by Harris Newman in 2011. Drum part on Track 7 written by Nico Dann, programmed by Pat Jordache. Artwork by Sarah Pupo.
