Every Casino Has a Chapel is the culmination of what could be called Butchard’s first real songwriting project.
The band has its roots years back, when Butchard was based in Montreal and he began stepping out from behind the drums and writing songs.
"I was just beginning to write songs at that point," Butchard said.
"But it was on that trip where I couldn’t take the kit that I thought ‘Okay I’m going to start to play the guitar a bit better’ and got the songwriting thing.
"I’d finish my day at work, and just pop the headphones on and walk. I feel like my best friend was the city, which is so cliche," he said with a laugh.
"This album is a collection of a few different projects almost.‘‘I do struggle to listen to an album if it’s all quite similar; unless I really like the sound of the artist I can’t really listen to a whole album’s worth.
"I was playing and recording it all myself, and sometimes you’d just be enjoying playing the acoustic guitar one day, so I’d just record that. I’m very aware that the songs are very diverse. I’ve found that all my friends who have listened to it have really different favourite songs, and I kind of like that."
In buoyant single Fingers, Butchard gets a bit loose and ragged, riding out a rapid distorted riff with the clink of piano keys before breaking into an anthemic ’80s-style rock chorus. All Dogs Come From Wolves, is a distinctly more lo-fi affair, channelling garage rock in its charm and stomping simplicity. Similar is Cherry Pop Chico, a chattering Lawrence Arabia rock/pop excursion, while Black Cat Hotel is sweet acoustic folk, with Butchard almost channelling former bandmate Mike McCloud of the Shifting Sands through his meditative vocal.
Butchard recorded and performed everything himself in a spare room at his home, giving the album an unpretentious intimacy and humbleness that reflects the man himself.
"It’s not like this big, deep thing, although I’ve found that the songs, after time ... I’ve found meaning in them. Maybe it’s a bit defeatist, but for me, maybe this is a nice way to end it almost. If I do this because these songs are old, in one sense that can’t help but stunt your creativity. Culmination is the right word. To see it through, to finish something."
BAND ON THE RISE
A new Dunedin band worth looking out for is avant-duo Ov Pain. The pair of Tim Player (Opposite Sex) and Renee Barrance (Elan vital) write undulating, quirky drone pop that recalls early Velvets, with the psychedelic swirling keyboards of some more dirge heavy early Flying Nun, Xpresway and Suicide.
There’s no official recordings yet, but the archivists at Dunedinsound.com have a recent live set available for download at their website.
Find the recordings and video at dunedinsound.com.
The gig
• Avec Spirale Every Casino Has a Chapel album release with support from Ultramafic on Friday, November 11, Pequeno Lounge Bar (across from Rialto Cinema), 9pm. Every Casino Has a Chapel is available via Bandcamp from November 11 avecspirale.bandcamp.com.
