This has the potential to be a regular Friday thing; a desk clearing edition of music I wish I had more time to talk about, but simply don’t. No more 500 word think-pieces (I can hear you all saying, thank god), simply a quick descriptor and a free track. Work for you? Works for me.

 

Ketch Harbour Wolves – One of my favorite discoveries in the last few years. The unique sound is an almost rural recklessness meets big city alienation and loneliness in a Maritime (location, not band output) meets The National style collection of boomers. The sound on Anachronisms is similar to what the band delivered on Dead Calm Horizon (so just take all my praise and extend it), they just seem more in control of the emotion and pace. Inspiring and somehow touching at the same time, they plead, “I don’t plan to remember this”, but chances are once you sink into this collection of songs, you won’t be able to forget them.

 

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MP3:: Ketch Harbour Wolves – Body Without Organs
WEB:: http://www.ketchharbourwolves.ca/

 

Colleen & Paul – Delicate folk from Paul Linklater and Colleen Hixenbaugh, almost every song is painted in pastels and built from 60′s style melodies (although the nice change of pace offered up by the more muscular “Please Be Kind” really helps the flow of the record) and vivid imagery. Gentle hints of psychedelia and relaxing dreamy grooves float around the room effortlessly and push the great vocal interplay to surprising heights. It’s a different type of summer record, one that finds you wanting to distance yourself from the beach and crowds to the security and breezy winds of a front porch, but one destined to soundtrack some great nights.

 

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MP3:: Colleen and Paul – Shouldn’t I Breathe
WEB:: http://www.myspace.com/colleenandpaul

 

Ben Wilkins – Residing in Montreal, this classically trained, multi-instrumentalist is fixing to release his debut, self-titled and the amount of polish he brings to intricately arranged piano jams is impressive. The touch points aren’t shocking – you can hear some Jamiroquai and Ben Folds in the mix- but the combination of strings, horns and piano with his soulful voice works well and the arrangements hint that this strong debut is simply the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Plus, he’s got quite a solid white guy, type fro going which is always enjoyable in my humble.

 

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MP3:: Ben Wilkins – Soup For One
WEB:: http://www.myspace.com/benwilkinsmusic