I first heard of Mardeen last fall when a good friend of mine warmly recommended the band. They don’t have a full length available yet (soon though), but you can still get your hands on a few wicked EPs for the time being. Friday I went out to Quai des Brumes to check out their live show with the better-known Two Hours Traffic.

Mardeen, formed by four lovely and unpretentious Haligonians, gave the audience a great set. The bass lines are heavy, the drumbeats are interesting and well thought out, and the harmonies are solid and never superfluous. The lyrics are smart, poetic and sometimes even brilliant.

Mardeen has a repertoire that takes from various styles and influences while staying within the boundaries of heavy-ish, very pop-y Indie rock. These guys are super-talented individuals who manage to create interesting and sincere music that has something to say and that knows just how to put it together. While many Indie bands sound alike and have a hard time creating something new and interesting, Mardeen makes my heart warm with lyrics like « I have a strong heart but you play too rough », and kept me rocking out for an entire set without ever loosing my interest.

Their set was followed by the more classic and much softer sounds of Two Hours Traffic, all the way from PEI. The five piece band played a great set, although not as energetic as I would’ve imagined. Their songs are very listenable and I don’t dislike their music at all, but it’s nothing to loose my panties over.

Photo provided by Sarah Brideau