Cherry Plaza - Unheard
Cherry Plaza
self-released
Over the last few years, Charlottetown has produced some of the best heavy music in Atlantic Canada, if not the country. With his debut EP, Unheard, Lucas Proud, aka Cherry Plaza, carries on a lineage of Prince Edward Island punk that includes UNCLE, Warsh, the now-defunct Antibodies, and their successors, CELL DETH.
Comprising four songs totaling almost exactly 13 minutes, Unheard rockets forth with grungy riffs and propulsive drumming; hear the driving opener “Complicated” or the buzzing, tailspinning “Deserving Of.” Like the best alt-rock, an undeniable pop sensibility shines through the dense guitar noise. Proud’s lyrics, mumbled and buried under the blaring instrumental murk, come off like free association: “Sundress / Reflects off / Reflexing / Reflecting / Dissecting / Projecting / Creative / Directing / Deflecting / Demeanor,” he sings on “What Am I Good For?” But listen closely, and you’ll realize he’s calling out others for their hypocrisy and ego while reflecting on his own insecurities. As brief as Unheard is, it’s anything but shallow musical or emotional waters. Take the plunge; you might be surprised by what you discover.
