ms de Melodia: The Sisters Gilroy Tom Mellish, OP Contributor Caitlin, over tea, says the music of her and her sister, Scotia, is not focused on one element, but, “is more the melding, blend- ing, soundscaping of different components that make up a bigger sound. There are lots of grainy record scratching and samples, lots of twangy, electric Morricone-style guitars and such.” ' Examining a photo of the two women, I see they are caryatid-like beneath a graffiti-covered trunk of brick- work. Caitlin stands, hands behind her back—a poker face before us. Scotia, one hand testing the brickwork behind, reveals an expression that is both knowing and mocking, as if there is a joke. It should be said that the Gilroy sisters are worlds apart. Literally. The world these two women have created, reaches across Canada and back to Europe. Somewhere in Poland, Scotia is laying tracks, and halfway back Caitlin is stoking the engine. Neither sister is a neophyte to the music or the scene. There is a history of music in the family, a violin-wielding grandfather focused on every member of his family loving music. This said, it must be noted that Melodia has supported music in Vancouver from the get go. Though neither sister considers herself well schooled in music, both prefer the spontaneity and flexibility that folk music provides to the classical realm. Caitlin says that the electrical current is different between the two countries, and so there is an abnormally high amount of re-recording. They each record their own songs on their respective 4-tracks, send them through the mail to each other, and combine them. The songs end up being played at different speeds; so much of their music is re-recorded on the other side. The benefit of this is that both musi- cians know the material intimately. At one point, Caitlin mentions that the current pace of life and the sudden inter- est in Melodia from others has left her breathless. Many friends are interested in working on joint collaborations with them, such as soundtracks to the work of a young filmmaker and an offer to pro- duce their first album. Modest fan bases, strengthening on both sides of the Atlantic, have been prompting them to play soon. If everything goes according to their dreams (as it has thus far), Melodia will be together in the summer of 2005 for intensive recording and touring in North America. launched recently Their website was , and a weblog about them has suddenly appeared. The year 2002 saw the conception of Melodia. The first songs were done in the back of a trailer on a trip to California, with recording equipment and the two sis- ters working on the song “Civil War.” Therein, an inspired Soren Gauger, who occasionally plays clarinet for Melodia, is working away at the Degradation manu- script at a manual typewriter. Caitlin is quick to associate the duo’s name with the USSR record label. The name has the order of a Kraftwerk album, and the breath of a Dinno Baffetti accor- dion. Take a deep breath and say Melodia like you are drunk on red wine; it res- onates a fabulous bouquet of sound. There is a quality to Scotia’s voice that is at once knowledgeable and at the same time naive. Within the sound is embodied the dreams and creativity of Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time. These two women have created some- thing truly beautiful. Yet, the lotus is still unfolding, and there is more to be seen, and heard. You can view the Melodia website at . If you would like Melodia to send you a CD, please write to them and let them know. NIGHTCLUB The original “ Thirsty $2 cover & $2 Drinks! Foreplay Fridays $3 Hiballs Cheer Factor Saturdays Check out our Giant Twister board and much much more Student special no line no cover before 10:30 with your student I.D. 54 - CHURCH ST. NEW WEST. 604-525-1932 Thursdays” a i i ip HOVeMoer = 3/2000