Yves Jarvis works his magic on “All Cylinders”

Yves Jarvis’ All Cylinders is tough to pin down, in the best way possible. The record sees the Montreal songwriter expand on his genre-blending collages of cathartic sound that have come to characterize his work over the past decade to create an expansive melodic world entirely of his own. Simultaneously feeling off the cuff yet crisp and tight, All Cylinders has elements of R&B, soul, jazz, outlaw country, and classic Americana, all spun together by Jarvis’s impressively refined songwriting chops and innate feel for melody and flow. 

Take the opener “With A Grain” for example, which starts with a jazzy, frantic energy that calls to mind the best of Black Midi and more recently, Goerdie Greep’s solo work. Jarvis’s understated yet evocative guitar lines float underneath the surface and around the edges, while his vocal melodies fill the soundscape and bounce off of each other to create an Illinoise-era Sufjan climatic feel as the track rolls to a pounding finish. The record manages to pull off a retro feel while also feeling fresh and of the moment. The celebratory and joyful “Gold Filigree” sounds like it could be a Purple Rain-era Prince tune, and “One Gripe” keeps the pace and momentum going, as a jaunty and metallic riff dances around Jarvis’s vocal. His voice is easy to sing along with, and pretty much every song on the record becomes an earworm after just a few listens

“I’ve Been Mean” has a country vibe, with a finger-picked riff acting as the main factor as the barebones drums make way for an epic hook. “It just occurred to me/ That I’ve been mean” sings Jarvis, with the clarity of somebody stumbling out of a saloon after an extended session. “I’m Your Boy” showcases his knack for classic arrangements; it sounds like something that could’ve been penned by Paul McCartney for a Wings record.

“All Cylinders” is one of the true highlights, and it’s one of the many tracks on which Yves Jarvis manages to put it all together. Over a piano riff that’ll instantly get stuck in your head for days, he flows without regard; “Sun will be rising/ Our tears will be drying” he croons, and it’s as life-affirming a moment as I’ve heard in a song in a while.

“Luck’s Last Luster” closes things out on a high note, and shows how Jarvis can carry a tune with just his voice, a guitar, and a pretty sparse production; it’s a number that might’ve sounded at home on Elliot Smith’s Figure 8, as Jarvis’s vocals tumble over each other to create a spidery web impossible not to get wrapped up in.  “One more dreary dire day/ I can’t find the time to catch myself a break”. Did I mention that his lyrics are relatable and memorable throughout the record too? Well, add that to the list.

All Cylinders is yet another fantastic step forward for one of Montreal’s finest, one that gives more and more the more spins that it gets. It’s a record that is sure to sound fantastic live, and, seeing as he played nearly everything on the record himself, it’ll be an awesome sight to see when he rolls into your town.

Photos by Casanova Cabrera