Inuusiq/Life

In order to secure his bandmate Nancy Mike's hand in marriage, The Jerry Cans’ lead singer and guitarist Andrew Morrison was apparently ordered by his future father-in-law to learn the Inuit language Inuktitut. This he evidently did, for almost all of the lyrics on their latest album, Inuusiq/Life, are sung in that tongue. However, it's the addition of Mike's solo katajjaq throat-singing (traditionally performed by women in pairs), that adds a more unmistakable Inuit sound. Inuusiq/Life is a fascinating record, not least due to the wide array of influences on show. As well as the constant thread of Inuit throat-singing, influences from indie and Celtic punk abound, as does Canadian fiddle music. While these elements find an impressive balance on ‘Anaanaga’, the standout track on the album is undoubtedly ‘Iqqanaijarumanngittunga’. With this song in particular, The Jerry Cans’ sound can be summed up as an entertaining hybrid between Iceland's indie pop superstars Of Monsters and Men and contemporary Inuit throat-singing phenomenon Tanya Tagaq (who is also from Nunavut). While Inuusiq/Life doesn't quite manage to keep up the momentum of its best moment, The Jerry Cans are certainly a refreshing and intriguing addition to the Inuit music scene.