Electronica heavy-hitters PINEO & LOEB have come out of the 2019 gates swinging hard with their latest album Elevation. Boasting a cover-exclusive tracklist, the Halifax duo remake everything from deadmau5 to Michael Jackson to Led Zeppelin, and they do a damn good job.
“Stairway to Heaven” was truly an ambitious task, but also one that the producers were up to. After utilizing subtle keys and brass synth to capture the iconic opening melody, the duo cranks up the synth pads to add a touch of magical sublimity to the Led Zeppelin classic.
Closer to home in their genre was the cover of deadmau5’s “Ghosts N Stuff.” Having brushed with the EDM icon in the past during the release of their single “Feel It,” it was all too appropriate for PINEO & LOEB take on one of the mau5’s hits. Though it lacks the haunting element of the original, the duo pair hard-hitting bassline synths with enrapturing female vocals, making for a club tune with attitude. Also among the “clubbier” tunes is “Rhythm Is A Dancer” (made famous by Snap!), which resembles synthwave after five shots of vodka.
The album is very multi-disciplinary in nature, often dedicating many sections of many tracks to a hip-hop or indie interlude. Two prime examples are “Lucky Man” (made famous by The Verve), with its heavily modulated strings and chopped up vocals making it the most unique track on the album, and Arcade Fire’s “The Suburbs,” whose heavy indie vibe coupled with Bowen’s vocals placing it among the standouts.
Deadmau5 isn’t the only legend that PINEO & LOEB took on — they also opted to cover “Digital Love,” made famous by electronica titans Daft Punk. Fans of the legendary duo will immediately recognize the heartfelt melody recreated by the duo behind this masterclass of a cover album. The Halifax producers capture each emotion conveyed by the original track while keeping it completely fresh with new sounds and new energy.
The album also features a variety of tracks that unlock the deepest emotions in any listener, including U2’s “Electrical Storm,” where you can hear the whirly rain descend from the snare drum clouds, The Killers’ “Smile Like You Mean It,” where every note carries a high-energy sensation that carries you gently through the track, and Coldplay’s “Fix You,” where the latter half of the song bursts into a punchy synth pad that one would likely hear whenever someone comes back to life.
“We have such a love for classics and some of the songs are so different composition wise to most modern electronic music that it was really inspiring to try to merge parts of the past with the future,” says Mitchell Pineo, one half of the duo. “It’s inspired us to challenge every aspect of our music creation and try to take it to another level.”
“I think the album really represents that if you believe in an idea and see it through to the end without expecting a certain result, what happens can be a wonderful surprise.”
Listeners can feel the hard work and emotion that PINEO & LOEB put into Elevation, and we think this album will be talked about for a long time to come.
Tour Dates:
02.28.19 – Victoria, BC @ Victoria Event Centre
03.01.19 – Cumberland, BC @ The Waverley
03.02.19 – Vancouver, BC @ The Red Room
03.07.19 – Kelowna, BC @ Doc Willoughby’s
03.08.19 – Squamish, BC @ The KnottyBurl
03.09.19 – Prince George, BC @ Heartbreakers Nightclub
03.14.19 – Grande Prairie, AB @ The Den
03.15.19 – Edmonton, AB @ Rec Room South Edmonton
03.16.19 – Saskatoon, SK @ Capitol Music Club
03.17.19 – Fernie, BC @ The Central
03.21.19 – Revelstoke, AB @ The Last Drop
03.22.19 – Red Deer, AB @ Hybrid Ultra Lounge
03.23.19 – Jasper, AB @ 4 Peaks Nightclub
03.27.19 – Whistler, BC @ Garibaldi Lift Co.
03.29.19 – Vancouver, BC @ University of British Columbia
03.30.19 – Nanaimo, BC @ Evolve Nightclubz
04.02.19 – Tofino, BC @ The Legion
04.04.19 – Calgary, AB @ University of Calgary
04.05.19 – Nelson, BC @ Bloom Nightclub
04.06.19 – Kamloops, BC @ Duchess Nightclub
04.07.19 – Canmore, AB @ The Drake
04.08.19 – Banff, AB @ Wild Bill’s Legendary Saloon