The Mother Down - Perfect, Imperfection

If you ever wondered what it would be like if Skid Row and Black Label Society wined and dined each other and then went back to the penthouse for some sweet lovemaking (I’m not sure why one would ever think of this), wonder no more because the fruits of their musical loins can be heard in the sombre yet scintillating new release by Montreal’s own, The Mother Down. Check out this video for their latest quarantine project, ‘Perfect, Imperfection’.

There is something so beautifully foreboding in this tune that graces the audience with the best of ballads from metal bands of yore and I cannot help but wish one thing…that it was longer! Alright, I wish a couple of things with this track. I think there is a place for some great vocals in an extended version of this track, for sure and, in addition to that, given the reminiscent echoes of this piece, I think a heart-wrenching guitar solo could do some justice here as well.

Now, this is not me getting overly critical of the new release by any stretch of the imagination. First and foremost, it is called ‘Perfect, Imperfection’…the clue is in the title that there is no expectation here. The video alongside this haunting track shows an empty world (one in which we now largely live), beautiful in the vacuum of space that we no longer occupy. And now I find myself changing my mind about the vocals and solo because perhaps the band was thinking this same thing and left a void in the track to help convey this feeling of emptiness in the world while we all must work together to be apart.

I’m sure someone could write a whole treatise about this gloomy yet ethereal song but I’m going to leave that to someone better read.

The surface point here is that The Mother Down have had to put their second album on hold due to social distancing and, in light of that, they have hit upon a wonderful bit of musical excavation and reflection, releasing ‘Perfect, Imperfection’ as an ode to those working on the front lines to help keep us supplied and safe.

In the words of the band…

In these crazy times, We have decided to begin a new musical journey. As our second album was put on hold, due to the quarantine.

We don’t know, if we have a project or just a song, but we are dedicating this tune to all the hard working people out there, working to keep our societies safe, and secure. Special thanks to the health care workers.

I think it is safe to say that they have a project here. Whether it’s the Quarantine Sessions or just a small series of similarly reflective and exploratory tracks they put out every so often while cooped up in isolation, I think The Mother Down has something here that people should be really digging into. As they move us with their music, perhaps we will be inspired to move others…from a safe distance, of course.