Description
Momento Mori is the full-length debut album by the Canadian alternative rock band Level Heads, released on Broken Records in 1988, a Brainstorm Artists International imprint manufactured and distributed by Word. (The band had previously released an EP entitled Limited Black Vinyl Edition.) The album was recorded at 3-D Studio in Costa Mesa, at Neverland in Los Alamitos, and at Whitefield Studios in Santa Ana, California; and was written and produced by band member Jim Chevalier.
The debut of Levelheads on the revamped Broken label, whose title I’m told is Latin for “Remember Death,” might have just as well been titled “Remember Life.” In the mold of Novo Combo, Levelheads – Jim Chevalier (pronounced like Chevrolet without the ro) on vocals and guitars, Craig Gillings on bass and brother Todd Gillings on drums – produce smooth, eclectic power pop with ’80s dance-punk-jazz influences. Formidable music, to say the least, but intelligent lyrics and a strong artistic sensibility say a lot more. ‘Momento Mori’ breaks new ground, giving new music and alternative music fans a band to get excited about.
Chevalier, Levelhead’s chief composer, takes on life and the way that death infiltrates and destroys throughout the culture in which we dwell and struggle. «Universe Is Out of Control» opens the disc with a clear look at the troubled world, while «Everybody Wants to Be Loved» assesses the human predicament. «Emancipation», sung over a stark acoustic guitar arrangement, deals poignantly with the Church which has been co-opted into a controlling, dehumanizing institution, taking away our uniqueness and special qualities. «More Than This» forces us to search beyond the veil for the ultimate meaning of it all, while «Fire and Grace» make the choices clear.
Levelheads, in developing a new, fresh sound (not mimicking others) and presenting provocative and challenging ideas, forges a place for themselves of value. Chevalier produces to good effect, while Joey Taylor holding down engineer responsibilities, with backing vocals from Gene Eugene and Riki Michelle of Adam Again and Glen Holland of 4-4-1, and sweet sax strains from choir-member Dan Michaels. A strong introduction, ‘Momento Mori’ will give you a lot to remember. [Brian Quincy Newcomb, CCM, April 1988]
CD tracklist:
01. Universe Is Out Of Control – 2:54
02. Seeing You – 4:06
03. Hand To Hold – 3:40
04. Betrayed With A Kiss – 3:14
05. Everybody Wants To Be Loved – 4:32
06. Live No Lie – 4:36
07. Emancipation – 4:07
08. More Than This – 4:28
09. Lookin’ For The Line – 2:52
10. The Train – 2:49
11. Work It Out – 4:30
12. Truth Or Fantasy – 3:06
13. Hey You – 2:21
14. Fire And Grace – 3:18
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Brainstorm.
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