Sometimes, I watch a performer, someone who is standing very close to me, and I think to myself, "A human could not get any more talented than this." Robert Wilson is one of these superhuman folks. I don't care how much you like or dislike his music - his dire talent is undeniable. He has completely perfected the technique of recording and looping back his own little snippets of music and giving himself a full band within a minute or two. How is someone this good at what he does not at the forefront of everyone's musical consciousness? It's really fascinating to watch him up there. I recall the first time I saw him. I remember it being at the Railway Club, but I don't remember exactly when it was. It took me a moment to figure out what was going on, and once I did, I couldn't believe the complex array of sounds he generated just from drumming his hands off the body of his guitar or clucking his tongue into a microphone.

He had one moment in this set while he was creating his layered musical backdrop, where he suddenly stopped what he was doing, proclaimed that he, "didn't like that," and started over again. Then he struck up creating sounds again and ended up with (to the best of my picking-through) two basic vocal tracks, one high-pitched 'hoo-hoo' vocal, one guitar strumming sequence, one guitar picking sequence, a cymbal sound he made with his mouth, a drumming noise on his guitar body, and a hand clap. And then he went in and harmonized with himself in the chorus. Off. The. Hook.

Stunning, relaxing, soothing. It's living room music. Inside the cozy Media Club, people perched on couches and watched with interest, a low murmur of socializing going on. Wilson spoke about his friend's baby being born, which made him realize what life was all about in the midst of so much trouble in this world, and the raging wars. Amongst everything else in the set, the most prevalent line I picked up on was, This heartbreak medicine tastes so good.

Robert Wilson is releasing a CD in May. He's going to have a CD release party for it. Vancouverites, be on the lookout.

Mary Ancheta had opened the night, very appropriately. Her music is confident and sexy, loungey and martini-drinking music. Her voice is husky and a controlled-guavering-wail, as she sits behind her keyboard and smokes out this roiling piano music. Her band includes guitars and trumpets - really spectrum-covering. Ancheta's vocals are also well-complimented by the sharp voice of guitarist Mark Lazeski. She also covered the Cure's "Love Cats" early in the set, which was a big hit with the audience. This is the sort of performance that would be a perfect setting for a first date.

It was a simple, light evening of music. Artists on the rise that should be looked out for.

Give Rob Wilson a whirl on CordMag's audio player.

Elsewhere

By Andy Scheffler
Video + stills : Andy Scheffler
Published : April 22, 2004.