NK.22.LOSTEGOFEA
PUBLISHED IN THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR Thursday, July 25, 1994
BY NICK KREWEN
It's almost as though TERRY TOMPKINS and LISA BOUDREAU have two marriages going on simultaneously.
Aside from their personal betrothal, which is responsible for two children both parents openly adore, Tompkins and Boudreau are the principle partners in LOST & PROFOUND, the brilliantly hypnotic soul-baring rock project.
It isn't until you talk to them about their latest album, Love's Sweet Messenger, that you realize how closely the two relationships -- artistic and personal -- are intertwined.
"It is an angrier record," Tompkins, a former Hamiltonian, says of Love's Sweet Messenger.
"The lyrics are a little more pointed on this record, though I'm not sure why."
"Well, we did go through a little personal vibe there for awhile," Boudreau admits, hesitating before she chooses her words.
"We always do, though," responds Tompkins.
"I think that a lot of the lyrics on this record have to do with what's gone on in the last couple years, just personally," Boudreau continues. "Maybe I'm just seeing stuff."
"Yeah, they do," admits Tompkins. "I can never directly relate it to my life. Sometimes I can. Generally, it seems almost abstract when I write lyrics."
A few uneasy moments pass, and then the tension dissipates as quickly as it appeared.
"We do pretty well," chuckles Tompkins as he picks at a plate of Mexican food at a Toronto eatery. "I think it's amazing that we're able to keep it together and still get along."
Both recognize that the tension in the relationship is what drives Lost & Profound, which transforms into an outlet for their emotions.
"I just have to let it come out," states Boudreau, whose haunting and hypnotizing voice powers such Lost & Profound confessionals as "Uncivilized" and "Blending In."
"I can't think about it too much. I sort of see what's going on in what we do, and I let it come out. I think that's why it works so well. We're sort of going through the same thing."
"It's a tight loop. Problem...Solved. Problem...Solved," laughs Tompkins.
"It is catharsis, for sure. And it builds up if I don't write. If I don't write, I start to lose my sanity and I have to go and get it out. It's a pretty forceful thing."
There's no denying that a close-knit family life has complicated things for Lost & Profound, but both Boudreau and Tompkins wouldn't have it any other way.
"It's a juggling act," Tompkins admits. "I think we want our kids to see that in their lives, they should do the thing they love to do. At the same time, you have to balance their needs and your job. I think there are some things that we can't do, like go on the road for a long period of time to sell our wares.
"That may hold us back commercially, but I'm willing to live with that. At the end of the day, that really doesn't matter so much as getting the music out there and doing the work."
Lost & Profound is going to tour, however. Unlike their previous albums, Lost & Profound and Memory Thief, Boudreau & Tompkins actually had a band in mind when they made Love's Sweet Messenger.
"I think it's great having a band," says Boudreau. "With the last two records, we weren't able to just jam and have a few beers and get together and play. Whenever we played, it had to be a showcase. Now we're just going out and kicking ass, and it's really fun."
Tentatively booked into La Luna in September, Lost & Profound plan to make the rounds around Southern Ontario before shopping for a U.S. deal.
And that's the other thing that's galvanized them: no longer with Polydor Records, who bought out their contract, Lost & Profound has released Love's Sweet Messenger on their own Lost Weekend Records. Tompkins expressed satisfaction at going the indie route.
"It was great for making this record," says Tompkins. "We had some interest before we went in to make this record, and we didn't pursue anything. I found that under scrutiny I didn't like being under that sort of a microscope. Even though it's not stated that there's any pressure, there is, that Big Brother sort of thing.
"So we purposely made this record without a deal. We just wanted to have fun, and just make the record we wanted to make and not answer to anyone, or even have to try and prove ourselves to anyone."
For Memory Thief, the Hamilton contributor was TIM GIBBONS. On Love's Sweet Messenger, the duo called on former CRASH VEGAS guitarist COLIN CRIPPS to play on songs "Uncivilized","Sleep" and "Exploding."
"He kind of reminded me of Tim," said Tompkins.
"They have a similar personality. I'd met Colin a couple of times here and there. I didn't really know him when I lived in Hamilton. But I really liked his guitar playing with Crash Vegas. He's a very free spirit, so it was like, `Run with the songs, play whatever you want.' He did a great job."
-30-
DISCOGRAPHY
1991 -- Lost & Profound
1993 -- Memory Thief
1994 -- Love's Sweet Messenger
COLLABORATIONS
1992 -- Various Artists, PolyGram's Most Wanted
THANKS: Wade Hemsworth, Glen Nott
©1994, 1999 Nick Krewen, Octopus Media Ink