Mother Mother Get Personal With a Whole Lot of Energy

The Canadian rockers of Mother Mother have returned with a new LP titled No Culture, their second album via Universal Music Canada. Mother Mother originally formed in 2005 and have since released five successful albums — excluding their newest work. And along with each subsequent release has come wider recognition, even to the point that they are able to sell out shows.

Lead singer Ryan Guldemond belts out lyrics that touch upon society’s destructive habits, our poor attitudes and the process of substance abuse and addiction. The first single on the record, “The Drugs,” is an upbeat, fun song with a heavy hook and a theme that pertains to both drugs and love. Siblings Ryan and Molly Guldemond play with their voices in one of the more robust and and intense tracks on the album, “Baby Boy.” From eerie harmonies to contagious melodies, it is full of crazy breaths that turn into repetitive and somewhat chilling calls of “baby boy” during the chorus, almost as if they were sung by the ghost of a child — pretty neat.  No Culture also has its slower songs (e.g. “Letter” and “Everything is Happening”), which are well-constructed and strong in female-male vocal harmonies, adding depth to the overall playful and energetic album.

Mother Mother definitely knew what they were doing with this record. From lively synths, rocking guitar riffs and great percussion, No Culture is a powerful album that is easily the most personal, honest and sensitive work of art the indie rockers have yet to put out. It’s fun, while simultaneously brimming with personal emotion, as it was written by frontman Ryan Guldemond during a sober sojourn in the middle of the woods following a lengthy, difficult habit of addiction. The songs on No Culture breathe beautifully, allowing them to open up and let listeners fall deep inside.