Drink and...Shape: A Q'n'R with PEI's 'Milks and Rectangles'

Milks and Rectangles: Christian Ledwell, Brandon Williams, Mike Carver, Justin Uyterlinde

NxEW album review of Civic Virtues EP: 8.5 out of 10


Okay, license and registration please...do you know how fast you were going?

Christian Ledwell: About as fast as a moped with four guys tightly hugging on it can go.

It says here your name is Milks and Rectangles, truth?

Justin Uyterlinde: Yes?

How did you come up with a name like that?

CL: Our original idea was to come up with something as good as the Halifax dance-punk group 'Sharp Like Knives.' My suggestion was to name ourselves 'Safe as Milk' after the Captain Beefheart album, but the guys (rightfully) shot that one down. Then we made the leap to 'Milks and Rectangles,' which is a line from The Avalanches' song "Frontier Psychiatrist," but pluralized 'milk' for whatever reason. I think Justin laughed when it was suggested, but ever since it's just been met with head-shaking and slight disappointment when we tell it to new people.

What do you do for fun?...

CL: Brandon's got a lot of responsibility guarding the coast, and I'm in the middle of writing a thesis. Milks & Rectangles haven't made a joke since 1998.
Mike Carver: Justin, and I, in our spare time like to secretly train Brandon by attacking the coast. He is doing very well.

What's the new album called?...

In unison: CIVIC VIRTUES

Where can people hear it?

Milks: www.myspace.com/milksandrectangles

Tell us what it was like recording Civic Virtues? Any memorable moments?

CL: My brother Daniel Ledwell produced the album, and the songs really benefited from his musical sense. He could tell us where the drum part needed to sound less like Tool, and suggested a lot of structural changes to the songs to make them more dynamic. We got pretty heavy into a box of wine one night while we were recording Justin's guitar and ended up mostly just watching Steve Brule on Youtube.

Brandon Williams: The recording was kind of nerve-racking for me. We had not all played together for several months when we went into the studio, and I was worried about how it would go coming in cold. But as Christian mentioned, Dan expertly guided us through the entire process and I believe the result is outstanding.

MC: Faaafaaaffaaaffaaffffaa (see Steve Brule via youtube) I recall it taking thirty takes for me to lay down "Armchair General", and later my elderly neighbor asking "if that band of yours only has one song". The answer is no, Margaret.

JU: Yeah I agree, it was a bit nerve-racking leading up to the recording but as soon as we began things went smoothly. At least I think they did, Dan might have a different story to tell.


Why's the new album called Civic Virtues anyway?

CL: It comes from a throw-away comment one of my professors made about how high-school English classes just try to teach civic virtues, which is pretty ridiculous as any books that are worth reading make some kind of counter-cultural statement. I like the notion that making music used to be part of a counter-culture; I was just reading about how PEI banned a music festival in 1971 that Bruce Cockburn was supposed to headline because it was thought it would lead to an invasion of drugs and free love. I don't think playing in a band is all that counter-cultural these days, though Stephen Harper's opposition to Holy Fuck getting grants shows that same view still persists somewhat.

BW: I have also been known to drive an old Civic, which has many virtues, although this is purely coincidental.

MC: This is a bit of a sensitive topic considering I was pushing for "Farm Kittens" as the title.

What is Milks' favorite song to play live from the new album?

CL: The last song we wrote was "Heart's the Target," trying to rip off Justice and Harry Nilsson in equal parts. It wasn't originally going to be on the album because we'd only played it twice live, but Dan agreed to record an extra song for us. I think his talented and persuasive housemates Jenn Grant and Kinley Dowling were in cahoots and helped talk him into it.


Do you fellas have a favorite Canadian band(s) right now?

CL: I still can't get enough of the Caribou album Andorra. On PEI, The Danks' new album is pretty action-packed, and the new Boxer the Horse is going to be swell. In Halifax, I've really liked Dog Day's new album, and Dan's band In-Flight Safety just put out a really solid record, though most the reviews bring up Coldplay and I think it's more of a throw-back to Echo & the Bunnymen and Talk Talk.

MC: I have been enjoying the new Dog Day, and I think Boxer's (Boxer the Horse) upcoming record will be good. I also have been listening to the new Great Lake Swimmers, The Arkells, and Pink Mountaintops.

What part of Canada would you like to play some day?

CL: For now we're going to try to promote the album in the Maritimes, and we might try to get over to Newfoundland to play some shows with our pals Mercy the Sexton, who stayed on my couch for ten days this fall when the transmission in their van died and they were marooned in Halifax.

MC: I would love to get up to explore Toronto, and the venues along the way to T.O.

Where does MaRs go from here?

JU: I believe it currently rises in the East around 2 a.m. then heads West from there.

CL: We're going to try to write over the winter and hopefully will work up a full-length by next year.


AND, If you had to pick a new band name what would it be, and why?

JU: We thought about changing the band name a few years ago but that got too confusing for us. I think some of the names being thrown around were "the Obstacles" and "Holepunch" to name a couple.

BW: The Coast Guard

MC: I thought we agreed that "Snow-pants Tap-dance" would be the new name?

I know it's kind of weird for a cop to be asking these questions...so, um, thanks...can I get an autograph?...fellas? no?

CL: Who's going to police the police?