Guelph math rockers prep to launch second album
After almost five years as a band, Baby Labour is finally getting a promotional photo taken, as only Baby Labour would — at the Walmart portrait studio. They’ve got a new record coming out this summer, and they’ve got to be prepared.
“We’re anticipating a ton of press on this record,” said drummer Jake Cadieux, with a big roll of the eyes. At a recent practice in their Guelph rehearsal space, where the trio recorded their new album, the jokes flew fast. “At least we know we’re outcasts, right, Troy?” Troy LaFontaine, the band’s impish, soft-spoken rhythm guitar player — who’s about 20 years the senior of the rest of the band — laughed.
Two and a half years ago, after months of touring and a quick, intense recording session, Baby Labour released their first full-length album, Aruban Sandwich, a tight 24 minutes of thick, riffy math rock. They followed that up a matter of weeks later with the two-track Gun Black Tape, in what lead guitarist Dan Loughrin now calls “a pretty stupid move.”
For their new full-length, which incorporates the Gun Black Tape material, Baby Labour took their time. Loughrin made a point of learning to produce and engineer the record himself — then did so not once, but twice, coaxing the band back into the studio after the first set of mixes wound up lacklustre.
The result, titled Full Legal Stop in homage to LaFontaine’s flawless driving record, will be out on cassette in June, accompanied by a book of illustrations by Toronto illustrator Scott Shields.
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Few bands are as serious and as goofy as Baby Labour. Loughrin detailed the band dynamic: “These guys keep it really tight,” said Loughrin, “and then I’m able to either fuck the song up or try to get everybody off their game by doing stupid shit that isn’t in the practice regimen.” That’s Baby Labour: rehearsing their tunes meticulously with the ultimate goal of running them off the rails.
It kind of makes the weirdly timed releases and long overdue promo materials seem like part of the plan. When I asked Loughrin about what they’re going to do in support of the release, he responded immediately: “Torpedo it.”
“Maybe we’ll play some shows,” he added.
Baby Labour play the Guelph Concert Theatre with Lonely Parade and Weaves on Friday, March 2.
Photo by Will Wellington/The Ontarion