THE LUDVICO TREATMENT: Romanticism

Artist: The Ludvico Treatment
Album: Romanticism
Release: April 2007
Label: Self-released

The Ludvico Treatment is the brain-child of Adam Veenendaal. Though he is accompanied by fellow musicians on stage, the album is almost entirely Adam’s work. With a post-rock emphasis on instrumentals and a rock vibe to its dark tracks, Romanticisim is a difficult album to categorize, which means that everyone is more likely to find something to enjoy. The diversity of the tracks ensures that one cannot simply identify one song as The Ludvico Treatment.

However, just as every rule has an exception, the first track “16:22″ (not the length of the song) is what truly defines The Ludvico Treatment’s sound to me. I would play you the first song, proudly boasting that I’ve seen them live and they’re really good. The lyrics are intriguing (“lyrical themes plagiarized from Greek tragedies and poems of the Romantic era,” according to MySpace), and the backing vocals, though few, are spell-binding foils to the rocking instrumentals.

Not surprisingly, my favourite song is “Affectations,” a slow number that guitarist Dave Cotton dedicated to me at their last show. The guitar and chord changes aim right at my heart, just as the piano does on my second favourite song, “…and he is trapped in ever after.” The ethereal backing vocals of these songs trigger something in me, and I can’t help playing these two songs on repeat until I feel guilty about neglecting the rest of the album.

Honourable mentions include “A Thousand Ambassadors,” the song that first made me think that The Ludvico Treatment sounds like a rock version of Massive Attack. The juxtaposition of electric guitar and haunting vocals offers an appealing contrast I can’t get enough of. An intriguing bonus track, simply titled “11.22.63,” is the news broadcast of JFK’s presidential parade before his assasination, played over an instrumental track that mirrors the panic and anxiety of the news reader. It’s hard to imagine one without the other, as they are such a perfect match.

Adam Veenendaal’s dedication in the creation and production of this album, with a little help from his friends, has paid off. Romanticism only loses marks when it comes to production quality, but that is to be expected on a self-released album. I look forward to questioning Adam in greater detail about The Ludvico Treatment in an upcoming interview.

Track List

1. 16:22
2. Affectations
3. Everything, Fire and Notebooks
4. Floral Landscapes for the Weak of Mind
5. Olivia, My Love
6. A Thousand Ambassadors
7. …and he is trapped in ever after
8. Let Love Come In Through the Window
9. (everything.)
10. 11.22.63 (Bonus Track)