It's not surprising that Fred Squire just released his latest record to little or no fanfare; that's kind of been the way the talented Sackville resident has approached his entire career. His purist vision (bordering on insane in today's "me first" market) that good music will eventually get heard is becoming less and less of a reality. Demos are sent to blogs within minutes of being recorded. Albums are traded freely months before release, but almost defiantly, Squire actually removes himself farther from the machine as the only "releases" this 7-song record gets is on cd-rs cased in a manila envelope, destined for only the most devout fans lucky to either know Fred or catch a show.

And that borders on a musical tragedy.

Squire's voice and subtle, distorted guitar should have pushed him to the top of the Can-Indie rock list by now - and underneath the barely audible vocals of the opening track What's That Over There, a Dead Rainbow? is the ever present chugging electric engine that has driven most of his previous work (and the bluesy stomp of We Are All The Middle Child I guess) - but it's the remaining songs that make this record so important in terms of how his music is judged.

The record plays like a moment of clarity; Squire is as honest and exposed as I've heard him. Piano ballads strips out most of the distorted safety net his Crazy Horse guitar style provides, and reveals subject matter is incredibly powerful and heart felt. The accordion, string laced instrumental End of Previous Song unsettles the listener and unshackles the chains that expectations have put on Squire's catalog. The droning melody reveals seconds of beauty, before Squire hits us with beautiful harmonies on the spiritual, acoustic/piano ballad You Sing High, We Will Sing Low.

It's so easy to forget that Fred's voice can pierce through the clunkiest of riffs and distorted energy, but on the stripped down tracks he provides here, it's almost hypnotic. The simple piano chord progression that starts Old Times Past Times is the perfect stage for Squire to grab the listeners before infusing the track with drums and tasteful electric. Fred walks us down moments of his life, never letting the pace or volume distract us from his words, and as he repeats, "the decisions that I made" you never get the sense he's heavy with regret, he's just finally willing to talk about some of the events that have stuck with him.

The truly amazing thing about this record is that even though the first few songs rank high among my favorite pieces he's ever written, Frankie & Albert might become the song that shows Squire reaching the summit of his potential. The effortless combination of piano and guitar are as honest a melody as I can remember and fit perfectly with the 5-minutes of heartbreak Fred sings about. Love, loss, pain, death and fear; these themes are ever present in music, but when they are delivered as perfectly as they are on Frankie & Albert, the results are enough to make you cry.

So is the fact that almost nobody will get to hear the song and share the experience.

MP3:: Fred Squire - Frankie & Albert

MP3:: Fred Squire - Old Times, Past Times
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/calmdownitsmonday
BUY:: Good luck

Labels: Best-of '10, EP, Fred Squire, Reviews, Sackville

A few years ago, Nebraskan song writer Josh Rouse picked up and moved to Spain and his song writing was impacted immensely by the journey. The country western spin he put on his acoustic driven melodies gave way to a more breezy European pop and Rouse's style was reborn. For Andrew Sisk - a.k.a. Share - the move may have only been one province to the left instead of across the Atlantic, but the rewards were just as fruitful.

As Sisk finds a new life in Montreal, it's quite obvious the language, architecture and lifestyle of the city have already changed his point-of-view. Instead of the lush, full band tracks he penned with help from the Forward Family for Slumping in your Murals, Sisk strips everything back to nylon stringed guitars, simple programming and the support of a few new friends. Sisk handles the dramatic shift nicely on this three-song EP. Opening with a more standard, country-indie rock effort - A Pause - the fantastic steel work Mike Feuerstack (Snailhouse) delivers is as comforting as an old sweater for fans of Sisk's previous releases, but without question it's the last two tracks that really showcase the new sound.

Brisé is an almost weightless melody that floats over top of some simple programming, but really lets Sisk and Miranda Durka's traded vocals steal the spotlight. You might be tempted to think that Andrew moved to Montreal and stumbled on someone's collection of French pop, but to me it feels more like he's finding his stride in a new city, without forgetting his roots. The bossa nova influence and bi-lingual vocals feel natural, not forced and everything comes together on the shaker heavy closing number, Et Cetera. Vibraphone dances behind the vocals, simple picked and strummed notes keep you moving forward but it's how well Durka and Sisk work together that makes the song something more than the sum of it's minimal parts.

Coco et Co.; it's only 3-songs and doesn't even reach 9-minutes, but Sisk has sent notice that he is sampling from a new inspirational reservoir and I for one can't wait to see where his journey takes him. Even better? Forward Music is giving you this snappy EP for the low, low cost of free. So head over and hear for yourself.

MP3:: Share - Et Cetera

MP3:: Share - A Pause

MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/andrewsisk
D/L:: http://www.forwardmusicgroup.com/albums/cocoetco.zip

Labels: Andrew Sisk, EP, Forward Music, Montreal, Reviews, Share

Again, I'm not sure if you can miss an album that was a DIY, limited release (500 EPs), but up until a few weeks ago I had never heard of this young song writing scamp from Vancouver. Considering Mac DeMarco (with drumming support from Alex Calder) - aka Makeout Videotape - had a lengthy tour with herohill favs Japandroids (and signed to the same label), you'd think we would have hipped ourselves to his style many moons ago.

It's fitting that as we get closer and closer to the new year, a few lo-fi, fuzz outfits have been getting the royal treatment. '09 was full of records that could have been recorded in a dumpster behinds the Hardees, but however you looked at the whole chill-wave movement, the talent of a few of the bands was undeniable. For me, it was the artists - like Makeout Videotape or Little Girls - that didn't try to hide their pop sensibilities, they merely chose to balance them with hiss, fuzz and static-y blasts.

Unlike Little Girls - Josh seems more like an 80's club kid caught in the wrong decade at times - Mac's melodies often rely on jazzy chords or blues-y stomps that mix with the sunshine swirl, ohs and ahs to create a debut EP that turns heads. MV is already prepping for a full length on Unfamiliar and chances are even when the lo-fi wave inevitably crashes, Makeout Videotape has already shown they have the chops to stick around.

Makeout Videotape - Heat Wave from ryan anderson on Vimeo.

MP3:: Makeout Videotape - I Guess the Lord is in New York
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/makeoutvideotape
LABEL:: http://www.areyoufamiliar.com/

Labels: EP, Makeout Videotape, Music, Unfamiliar Records, Vancouver

Ah the internet. You giveth and you taketh away. The young scamps from Alberta - known to you all as The Outdoor Miners - tried to get us a song in time for our EPs list, but their internet crapped out like the Saints last night (or, like the Steelers the last 5 f*cking weeks I guess).

Alec and Peter felt so bad about it they sent over a nice little track for us to post after the fact. It's called Melony and it continues to show the potential this outfit offers up on every song.

Enjoy!

MP3:: The Outdoor Miners - Melony
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/outdoorminers

Also - even though I don't have an MP3 to post, I have to say the new single from The Darcys is pretty solid. House Built Around Your Voice starts as a surging wall of fuzz, and the Toronto gazers jump into those classic Radiohead sounds, but instead of trying to sound important (or more accurately, pretentious; a curse for many bands influenced by the greatness of the band), The Darcys opt for a more relaxed feel. The track still seems huge, but it exhibits a freedom and moments of delightful sloppiness that balance the shimmering guitar sounds and Yorke-ish vocals. If this is any indication of the upcoming record... I'm on board to here more.

Labels: Canada, EP, Music, Outdoor Miners, The Darcys

More and more Canadian EPs. We are stoked that so many of the bands we love offered up their time for this project, whether it was recording a track in a room full of friends or delivering an absolutely crushing cover of one of the best Canadian songs of the year... well, you get the idea that this list is full of goodness.

Band:: Wilderness of Manitoba
Album:: Hymns of Love & Spirits
Web:: http://www.myspace.com/thewildernessofmanitoba
Review:: http://www.herohill.com/2009/09/reviews-wilderness-of-manitoba-hymns-of.htm

Q1) Musically, what was the most important moment for you in '09?
Sc: We've played some amazing shows, but for me it was having a live version of 'Evening' chosen as track of the day on cbc radio3 that made us all realize that we were really onto something special, and it helped drive us to finish the record, and gave us the confidence to play some really amazing shows with some amazing bands.
M: Opening for the RAA CD release at the Horseshoe back in July was pretty great. That's something that seemed to open a lot of ears to our music and it pretty much coincided with our EP release so it was really the first time people could get our music and take it home with them.
Q2) Given the circumstances and inspiration that led to the recording of this EP, how hard was it for you to put something so personal into the public eye for critique?
W - I think that when songs are written from personal experiences, they are in some ways easier to perform because you're never far away from the subject matter. This can result in a more honest performance
Sc: We really believed in what we were doing, and that confidence took us a long way. We're flattered to be mentioned along-side the rest of this list, but we also never expected the EP to go as far as it has. I think the personal nature of the record made it easier in some ways to put out there, I mean, we're just being honest with ourselves, and if you like it, or you don't, it doesn't change the place where it came from.
Q3) How hard is it to separate the success and emotion of this project from your other musical projects?
Sc: Every band has a different energy, and its really nice to be able to focus on different projects from time to time. I've found that sometimes if you love something too much and put all of your energy into it all of the time you end up killing it with smothered kisses. It's nice to walk away from something and towards something else from time to time. Music is all about learning and the process for me.
M: For me, not that hard, but I haven't really written that much for the band yet so I'm not sure how much doing that will affect more personal writing. It doesn't feel like I'm shifting focus from my other project entirely, it's just that I love what we're doing and believe in it so much that I naturally focus on this.
St: It was pretty easy at the start. I've been used to playing in bands and sitting in with people and this was just another one of those opportunities. It sort of took me by surprise when we started getting attention - it means that there's more responsibility on the business side of things, but creatively it doesn't really change things. I still write stuff for myself, some of it just ends up in this project and some of it elsewhere.
Q4) If you had to pick one band to take your spot on our Best-of List, who would get the nod?
Sc: I would say Timber Timbre, although I'm sure that would actually make his position on this list worse than it already is. That album got a lot of play in my dark bedroom.
M: Ahhh... that's so hard. There are so many deserving bands but my heart tells me to go with Olenka and the Autumn Lovers. I love their energy, their arrangements and, well, I just love them.
Q5) People often view Toronto as a hipster melting point for musicians. What's the biggest misconception about the TO scene in your opinion, and what's your favorite thing about playing music in TO?
M: There is something about being in a city with a huge music scene that can be daunting but I find that it has been really supportive, more so than we expected with our sound. The best thing about playing here? Feeling that support at our shows from our friends and fellow musicians.
St: Like anywhere else, people tend to latch onto what's "hot" or getting attention in the weeklies. The main difference though is that so many of the people going to see shows are musicians themselves - and they're really supportive people whether they're your friends in other local bands, or in bands that have toured the world.
Q5) Looking forward to 2010, what can fans of the band expect from The Wilderness of Manitoba?
Sc: A new record - it will be our first full length. No name for it yet, but the songs are written and are being recorded right now in much the same fashion as the EP was. Touring! A trip to the UK to play the End of the Road Festival and more touring! 2010 will be a fun year.
M: What Scott said and maybe some other special releases!

Now, if you have read herohill all year, you know I love Timber Timbre and politic-ed hard for Taylor to make the short-list, so the simple fact that W o M took the time to record a herohill-only cover of Demon Host is one of the best surprises we could have asked for this year. Apparently, this is the only place they are going to make it available - well, except for any other blog that just d/l-eds it and posts it themselves. Throw in the fact it's terrific, and well, now we all win.

MP3:: Wilderness of Manitoba - Demon Host (Timber Timbre)

Band:: Basket of Figs
Album:: Oh Eye, Oh Night
Web:: http://www.myspace.com/basketoffigs
Review:: http://www.herohill.com/2009/04/reviews-basket-of-figs-oh-eye-oh-night.htm

Talk about an embarrassment of riches here. Not many lists would have a Tom Waits cover thrown to them as an after thought, but this little gem - Shiver Me Timbers - was recorded around the same time as the EP and has yet to see the light of day. Enjoy!

MP3:: Basket of Figs - Shiver Me Timbers (Tom Waits)

Band:: The Gertrudes
Album:: Hard Water
Web:: http://www.myspace.com/theothergertrudes
Review:: http://www.herohill.com/2009/07/reviews-gertrudes-hard-water.htm

1) What was your best musical moment of '09?
An illicit midnight recording session in a condemned church (technically that was '08, but within a few days of the end of the year). Two live tracks from that session are on our 'Hard Water' EP, and one more has found its way to your esteemed website. A video by Lenny Epstein is out there too, of the song 'Hard Water' as we recorded it. Yeah, feeling like naughty high-school students sneaking into a church to record a 10 piece band to record live off the floor, nailing the version of New Sound that ended up on Hard Water, and getting out without getting in trouble! I'd say ripping into Cliff Jumping at Sappy Fest with fueled by the adrenaline resulting from the fact that 10 minutes earlier we were almost resolved to having to miss our set as half the band got lost and then swooped in at the last possible second! If i could count the entirety of our east coast tour as a single moment, that would be it. Playing all night long at the OCFF in a tiny room with the entire band crammed in a corner, rocking our socks off and sweating like fiends, oh yeah, and Bob Wiseman joining our ranks for some sweet accordion madness at 3:30am. Streaking the Wolfe Island Music Fest to jump into Lake Ontario before our second set. I think that was our loudest applause ever. Not to mention a couple of us joining RPC (along with members of Feuermusik) for RPC's SappyFest set... that was really fun.
2) In an era where it is hard enough to tour as a compact unit, how hard is it to plan even a one off show when every member of the band is so important to the end result?
I think we all feel The Gertrudes is a bit of a special thing so we're taking care to make time for it. There are enough of us that we can cover for each other, so even if someone can't make a show or a tour, we can manage quite well although it always changes the dynamic in interesting ways. Ideally we'll bring families along and make a party of it. There were 22 of us on our east coast tour this summer, including the kids. It takes a lot of advance planning on everyone's part... especially Greg's. Also the extended Gertrudes family has been extremely supportive. The memory of sprinting from our van with trailing patch chords and cables, doors left wide open, just in time to get on stage for our SappyFest performance, suggests we still have some work to do with Gertrude time management. But what other 11 piece band travels with their complete families? We topped The Burning Hell on that one, they thought they had us beat for sheer numbers on the road to SappyFest... but we recruited a few extra singers/percussionists/bass player/baby to bump our numbers up. But seriously, it's a lot of work. And a lot of love of this Gertrudey thing that gets us from place to place... and the permission of our amazing families to do what we love.
3) I'm really intrigued by the writing process of the band. Do the songs start as old timey numbers or simple picked riffs that gradually get transformed when every band member adds their part or is the end goal more clear throughout the entire process?
Either/both, depending on the song. We work hard on arrangements. A lot of our rehearsal time is just talking through the possibilities. Songs start pretty well-formed by one individual but get worked over a lot. "Advancement of the Human Age" is one example, where the second half of the song was a bit of a surprise to us all. Sometimes the songwriter has a clear vision, other times they just bring a sketch and we colour it in together. We record all our practices and listen back to them... That has been an invaluable tool in getting all the sounds to find their place in the blend. Sometimes Jason adds musical theatre components... which we'd like to expand upon. We have awesome conversations about our musical visions... something which is almost impossible to articulate. And then someone will try and play that thing on their instrument, which doesn't sound anything like what the person was trying to describe, but then is somehow more awesome in it's inaccuracy. And then someone else will try to describe what they were hearing in their head and we continue from there adding layer upon layer of beautiful misunderstanding.
4) If you had to pick one band to take your spot on our best-of list, who would get the nod?
I am enamoured of Eric Chenaux, Ryan Driver, Doug Tielli and others on the Rat-drifting label out of Toronto. Tom Savage Trio: The County Line (and yes, also Bruce Peninsula!). I would pick Hollerado cause they know how to party, but a lot of great music happened this year! We all have a big love for Bruce Peinsula - playing their year end show in TO at The Music Gallery was a huge treat for us! Wait, did you say one band? One each right? No? Nuts.
5) What's next for the Gertrudes? Can we expect a new EP or new LP in 2010? - Note, I hope the answer is yes.
A full-length release is on the way! But before that, we will have a 7" vinyl release in collaboration with PS I Love You, Bruce Peninsula, and Muskox. We'd like to make a video out on frozen Lake Ontario, featuring the sky. Looking forward to many more collaborations and teaming ups... Gertrudes brand jam.
6) When most people think of Kingston, they think Queen's and prisons, not music. So for all of the people that don't get to see the city, what's the best thing about playing music in Kingston, and if someone only had 24 hours to spend in K-town, how should they spend their day?
Kingston for the past few years has been experiencing a bit of a musical explosion, thanks to organizers like Apple Crisp, Skeleton Park Music Festival and Modern Fuel Artist-Run Center. Come in the summer, have a swim with us in Lake Ontario off of the Water Treatment Center dock, then check out what music may be on at the Mansion, the Grad Club, the Artel, or... I really love all the different music venues that all have their own charm - everything from tiny bars to living rooms to old old cavernous churches... we've had the great fortune of getting to play in all of the above. Take some university students on a trip to the prison...or vice versa... Breakfast at The Sleepless Goat, free ferry ride to Wolfe Island, walkaround or go to Big Sandy Bay, snack at the Wolfe Island Bakery, swim/skate back, lunch at The Right Spot (breakfast part 2), sneak into a church and play the piano for an hour or so, dinner at Annie's house, find some live music or make your own, stay up all night roof hopping...? Wait, that's starting to sound like high school all over again.

Catfish John is probably most well known by Dead Heads, courtesy of Jerry covering the song, but I was always partial to the Alison Krauss version. Now, I have a new favorite - this high quality live version from The Gertrudes! (email me if you are a super audio nerd and need the FLAC version).

MP3:: The Gertrudes - Catfish John

Band:: The Mountains & The Trees
Album:: Hop, Skip & A Jump
Web:: http://www.myspace.com/themountainsandthetrees
Review:: http://www.herohill.com/2009/09/tuesday-mailbag-mountain-trees-vivek.htm

Wow, you’re not pulling any punches with this questionnaire are you? I mean, this has to be the hardest question to answer first. So many things… the release of “Hop, Skip, & A Jump,” playing NXNE and TIFF, a live CBC concert and #3 on the CBC Radio 3 Top 30, etc, etc… Well, alright, if I had to pick, I would have to say opening-up for Billy Bragg in St. John’s and Halifax. It wasn’t even necessarily playing the show, but hanging out with Billy afterwards – now THAT was amazing.
Well, if it was a day like today, I would bring them to the airport and put them on a plane to the Bahamas (or to see Bahamas, whichever they’d find warmer), haha. Seriously though, walking up and down Water St and Duckworth St would be a significant part of it. There are so many great shops for coffee, music, clothing, etc. If you’re in a touristy mood, Signal Hill is a nice place to visit. If you’ve got some wheels, you can head-out to Cape Spear, the most Eastern part of North America. There’s always live music going on somewhere in the city. Really though, my favorite place to bring people is Middle Cove beach. It’s just a little ways outside of town (so a car is required), but it’s just such a beautiful place, for me anyways. I grew-up only 5 minutes away from a beach and I often go out to Middle Cove beach just to relax, think, write, and take photos. I’ve been there at every conceivable hour of the day and night and it would be my number one recommendation of somewhere to visit when in st. John’s. One funny note about this question – I’m not from St. John’s myself, so maybe my viewpoint is a bit off. Just sayin’.There are SOOOO many musicians/bands in St. John’s – that’s what makes it great. There are a ton of places to play and almost every night of the week, music is happening somewhere. On the larger scale of Newfoundland, there are some great festivals happening around the province. We played a festival in Gros Morne last year called Trails, Tales, & Tunes and it remains one of my favorite shows thanks to the audience. There’s also Writers at Woody Point, which has featured artists like Amelia Curran, Duane Andrews, and Kathleen Edwards. That also takes place on the West coast.
They both have bonuses. I like band shows because I like playing with other musicians. My “band” is called the Valleys & Seas Orchestra and features members playing guitar, organ, drums, bass, cello, violin, euphonium, flugelhorn, tuba, flute, accordion, etc. I draw upon the resources of the local music school a lot, haha! We were even invited to participate in a private concert due to the “orchestral sound” of the full group. On the other side of the coin, solo shows are great because they really make me focus. I’m really shy on stage and when it’s just me up there (like at the Rebecca Cohn), I’d better be on my game or else. They also allow some freedom with arranging on the fly. I might decide to talk about the song in the middle of it and just repeat a verse underneath. When it’s just me, I can do that without rehearsing.
Q5) What's next for you musically?
Haha, can I say Bird & Bear? Ok, ok, that would be cheap, so if I had to pick somebody else for the best of EP list of ’09, I’d have to say Dan Mangan – Roboteering. Do I really need to explain why I’d be happy for Mr. Mangan to replace me on any list? Likely not. Also, would Timbre Timber count as an EP? That would also be good. I check the date and it’s a little outside, but I really enjoyed Library Voices – Hunting Ghosts. I bought it for the artwork (which I sometimes do) and it just struck me as a really enjoyable EP to pop in, especially for road-trips.
So after that essay, how about some god damn music! Here's a sneak peak at some upcoming material, a version of More & More & More recorded in a room full of people just to make herohill feel like part of the gang.

MP3:: The Mountain & The Trees - More & More & More

AND THE BIG REVEAL! Who's NUMBER 1?
Band:: Zeus
Album:: Sounds Like
Web:: http://www.myspace.com/themusicofzeus
Review:: http://www.herohill.com/2009/06/carlin-nicholson-and-mike-obrien-have.htm

Bottom line... this EP knocked me on my ass and their live show proved that Zeus is an unstoppable force. When their new LP drops next year, accolades will follow.

Starting Monday we have our LP countdown, including some extra special gems. So come on back now, ya'hear.

Labels: Basket of Figs, Best-of '09, EP, The Gertrudes, The Mountain and The Trees, Wilderness of Manitoba, Zeus

Band:: Outdoor Miners
Album:: self-titled
Web:: http://www.myspace.com/outdoorminers
Review:: http://www.herohill.com/2009/11/quick-hitters-outdoor-miners-release-7.htm

Q1) What was the band's best musical moment of '09?
Alec had to have surgery that had a much longer recovery time than originally expected, so we had to cancel all sorts of shit that we were looking forward to. When we were finally able to get back at it, we wrote a bunch of new songs that are probably our best yet (At least we think so). The door at our 7" release party sold out....that felt really good as well...
Q2) As a young band, I'm excited you opted to release a 7" instead of rushing out a sloppy EP or LP. Was that your decision or the labels?
It was our decision initially, but the label fully supported it. We knew we wanted the natural grainy sound of vinyl, and we were pretty sure that everyone else wanted it as well. Releasing a 7" just feels good.
Q3) Speaking of the label, Pop Echo seems to be a terrific springboard for young AB bands. How did you get hooked up with them, and will another release be in the cards soon?
The Pop Echo guys have helped us immensely. They saw us play and really liked it, a couple of weeks later they asked if we were interested in working with them. We love those guys and will continue to work with them for as long as possible. We're going into the studio with Nik Kozub over the Christmas holidays to record our next 7", which is tentatively planned for an early summer release.
Q4) If you had to pick one band to take your spot on the '09 best-of list, who gets the nod?
Its a tie between Grown-ups from Calgary, and Peace from Vancouver. Both of those bands are awesome and super fun to play with.
Q5) Edmonton has really been killing it lately. What's the best part of playing music in Edmonton, and if one of our readers had only 24 hours to spend in the city, what would you suggest they do?
Things are pretty good in Edmonton right now (other than this crazy weather): Aaron Levin (weird canada) has been putting on a ton of awesome shows with really cool bands, there's a perfect new venue, and Hong Kong bakery is still dirt cheap. 24 hours in Edmonton? Go to Chinatown and eat a bunch of vietnamese subs, and then head straight over to WEM and ride the mind bender 200 times. Duh.
Q6) This isn't even really a question you can probably answer, but what are the chances you could write a song about Jari Kurri and his awesome old skool Jofa helmet?
Between high and extremely high.


Band:: Milks & Rectangles
Album:: Civic Virtues
Web:: http://www.myspace.com/milksandrectangles
Review:: http://www.herohill.com/2009/09/quick-hitters-milks-rectangles-civic.htm

The one problem with picking a young band is that they don't have covers and b-sides just lying around. But they do a DVD inspired outtakes reel for you to enjoy. As funny as hearing them stumble over lyrics is, Milks & Rectangles added a much needed, UK stadium rock vibe to the Canadian indie mix - in fact, "if you told me this EP was from a group of seasoned vets playing over seas, I wouldn't blink an eye." Well done lads.

MP3:: Milks & Rectangles - Outtakes

Band:: The Prospector's Union
Album:: Syracuse
Web:: http://www.myspace.com/theprospectorsunion
Review:: http://www.herohill.com/2009/07/herohill-music-nova-scotia-artist-of.htm

Q1) What was your best musical moment of '09?
Hearing the York Redoubt record for the first time. Chad Peck put it best when he said, it's 'make you wanna sell your guitar' good.
Q2) You kind of cobbled together a Halifax globetrotters to act as your backing band - I think at one point I saw Ledwell playing on a ladder and spinning a basketball on his finger - so how hard is it to get the band together to practice and learn new songs, or is the spontaneity something that helps The Prospector's Union keep moving?
Yeah, for every show we play it usually comes out of one or two practices. I think that helps keep the excitement level up...that and Dan always teaching us new finger spin tricks. It's a pretty painful process hauling everyone into one room at one time, but it always eventually comes together...eventually.
Q3) It seems the whole world is moving to roots and alt. country. Everyone wants a cowboy shirt and some lap steel in their songs, but the purity and appreciation of your music really shows that this is more than you tapping into the hot sound. So, for fans new to roots, who is your biggest influence, and who's someone that is writing songs today that will stand the test of time?
Well thank you. I'm generally not a fan of 'alt-country.' I have issues with any music that is created as a genre exercise. "See! Just like Hank Williams! Get it??" That said, their is something at the core of country and country influenced music that has always felt right to me. Writing-wise, I found that's a big part of the balance with the genre. I listen to a lot of old folk, the Harry Smith Project and such (I actually just got a record by Nimrod Workman called I Want To Go Where Things Are Beautiful that is amazing), and I think the themes and mood of that have influenced me a lot. I try and keep it to that though. No one wants to hear some pasty East Coaster with a Macbook singing dust bowl laments. For modern writers, I'm a big J. Tillman fan. I think Old Man Luedecke is brilliant as well. For just a straight up cool mood, A.A. Bondy is really doing it for me right now.
Q4) What's next for PU? Maybe a full length in 2010?
That's the talk. We'd really like to work with Dale Murray on something.
Q5) If you had to pick one band to take your place on our Best-of list, who would you pick?
Hmm, I haven't seen the entire list. Any Dog Day record that isn't up there should take our place. Seth has a solo record coming out that is pretty amazing as well, it might not make it in time for deadline though.
Q6) Tomorrow you get a call from the people at The Mighty Boosh. They want you to write a song about any character you want. Who do you pick, and what's the song called?
The Hitcher - Talkin' Cockney Urine Blues

MP3:: The Prospector's Union ft. Melanie Stone- Astro Zombies (Misfits cover)

Band:: Almonds, Cohen
Album:: Amazing Grass
Web:: http://www.myspace.com/almondsgoing
Review:: http://www.herohill.com/2009/05/quick-hitters-almonds-cohen-amazing.htm

1) What was your best musical moment of '09?
The first night after arriving in Toronto in July I played a solo show opening for The Wooden Sky on their rooftop at Queen and Ossington to a really awesome bunch of strangers. When the Wooden Sky played it started to pour and we held umbrellas and shirts and pieces of paper over their heads and amps while they continued playing, and it was so much fun that I didn’t even think about us possibly getting hit by lightning. Then the whole show moved down into the tiny living room and turned it into a sweat cave.
2) You have moved from a more solo based routine to a full band lineup. how hard was it to transform the songs, and what do you like better about the current state of Almonds, Cohen?
Transforming them is the most fun. I like to take the idea of playing the recorded songs live with other people as an opportunity to re-imagine them. Maybe finally add an interlude that I had intended to for the recorded version but forgot. Or have Emma sing the verses instead of me, or a violin play the guitar melody. I think the recording of a song should remain as it stands – I’m against re-recording songs, unless the newer version is fundamentally different – but the live version should be ever-changing, depending on who’s playing in the band each time. I’m just really happy to be playing with such good people. And Emma! I don’t ever want to do a show without Emma now. I can’t really imagine Almonds without Emma. That may be why I’m hesitant to play shows in Toronto. No Emma.
3) Location often influences the sounds and subject matter we write about. You've moved halfway across the country this year and have spent time on both coasts. how has life in a big metropolis affected your song writing?
Immediately after getting here I wrote a song called “T.T.C.” about getting here. That’s the Toronto Transit Commission. I don’t know if I’ll ever play it to anyone, but I hum it to myself sometimes. Aside from that, the songs I’m writing now could have, and would have, been written anywhere. Being relatively shy to this new city and not playing any concerts has allowed me the time to write a whole lot more, and more carefully, more thoughtfully. So I guess that’s a discernible way the city has influenced my songwriting. But I’m not planning a concept album on Toronto. I believe that would be a very sucky idea for an album.
4) If you had to pick one band to take your spot on our best-of list, who would get the nod?
My Friend Wallis. That’s Crystal from Vincat, her solo project. It’s bliss.
5) Settling into a new scene is often a challenge. What was the hardest thing for you about moving, and what was the biggest misconception you had about being a musician in Toronto?
Moving away from Victoria was the hardest part about moving to Toronto. But I’m not pinned down anywhere, which is good. I think I’ll go back to Victoria in the summer. Or maybe to Halifax. I can go anywhere! Misconception-wise, I’ll just say that I thought no one would listen in Toronto.
6) Have you adjusted to not being on the ocean???????
No! I’m dying as a result! Once out of desperation I went swimming in Lake Ontario and it was heartbreaking.
7) What's next for Almonds, Cohen? Can we expect new songs in 2010?
New songs forever. Toronto shows. Maybe an east coast tour. Huge album mid- or late-2010. Working title: Jenga Ritual!

So if reading about the "band's" transition from singular vision to full fledged band didn't intrigue you, I would hope this fleshed out version of Diggin' For Clams would.

MP3:: Almonds, Cohen - Diggin' for Clams (live, full band)

Band:: Dark Mean
Album:: Frankencottage
Web:: http://darkmean.com/
Review:: http://www.herohill.com/2009/04/reviews-dark-mean-frankencottage.htm

Q1) What was your best musical moment of '09?
2009 was an exciting year for us, but I have to say my favorite moment came when we finished China and got to listen to the Frankencottage EP from start to finish for the first time. Before that night we spent probably 2 days mixing China only to reach a dead end. None of us were feeling the direction of the tune so Mike (our producer) erased the board and we started again from scratch. After a little break we brought up the piano and vocals on their own and found a new perspective on the song... and within an hour the song was done and we realized we had our first EP.
Q2) You made a decision to give your record away for the low low price of free. Looking back, do you think that was the right call and what was the biggest reward of giving everyone a chance to hear your music?
I think it was the right call for us. When you’re a new band you have to find ways to become known before you can make money. We went from total obscurity to having over 70 reviews and blog posts written about us in a matter of months... some in languages we can't read. That was the biggest reward for sure. We asked people for their email address in exchange for the free download. But we actually haven't sent out a single email to anyone on our list. No one likes those annoying mass emails, but we're thinking once the next EP is ready (very soon), we'll send out a quick email letting people know where they can get it.
Q3) When I first heard your EP, I was super impressed by the unique collage of elements you used to forge your sound. How did the songs originate and how much did they evolve to get to that final product?
I think most of our ideas have come out of jam sessions in Billy's garage. Over time we accumulated quite a range of instruments in there so I guess when you notice a banjo sitting in the corner, you eventually pick it up. Then we were asked to write and perform the soundtrack to a local play and this gave us a reason to turn our ideas into actual songs. Once we began recording at Vibewrangler Studio, the songs really evolved. Our producers Mike and Glen gave us the freedom and guidance to create something a lot bigger than what we had in the beginning. They deserve a lot of credit for the sounds that you hear when you listen to the EP, not to mention the guest musicians that appear on the EP. Hamilton has such a supportive community of talented musicians and we were lucky to have access to just about any instrument we wanted to have on the record.
Q4) What's next for Dark Mean?
We’re planning to release the next EP, Music Box, in January and soon after get started on the final songs that will make up our full length. We hope to have the full album ready by late spring so we can spend the summer touring and promoting it. We're all really stoked about the upcoming year.
Q5) If you had to pick one band to take your place on our Best-of list, who would take your spot?
I would choose The Rest, they're another awesome Hamilton band. Keep an eye out for Wildlife too. They’re just finishing their first record at Vibewrangler and I’ve loved everything I’ve heard so far.
Q6) Hamilton has a shockingly dedicated scene. What's the best thing about playing music in the Hammer, and if people only had one day to spend in your city, what would you tell them to do with their 24 hours?
The best thing about playing music in the Hammer is the fact that there are so many enthusiastic musicians and artists to collaborate with, play with, and learn from. The ultimate day in Steeltown would start with a bagel and coffee at Locke Street Bakery (not starbucks), followed by stroll through town to visit some of the cool shops and art galleries, I’d say grab lunch on a patio in Hess Village, take a well deserved nap (hopefully with someone else), then maybe go for a hike by Webster’s Falls, then head over to Vibewrangler Studio to hang with us, have a few drinks, and join us while we play catch with an aerobie in Gage Park.

As a special treat, Dark Mean has decided to premier the first offering from their 2010 EP here on herohill. Strings, acoustic, energy, group vocals - that's the type of Music Box I can get behind.

MP3:: Dark Mean - Music Box

Labels: Almonds Cohen, Best-of '09, Dark Mean, EP, Milks and Rectangles, Outdoor Miners, Prospectors Union

Without a doubt, simply on title and one song alone, the new Montag covers EP would have gotten some love on herohill. I mean, we've already covered the talented Montreal resident on herohill and certainly want to hear his new record due out in 2010, but that's not what got our motor running so to speak.

Montag - aka Antoine Bedard - decided to cover songs he loved at some point in life and release the "EP" as a tape (it was recorded to tape and then made digital but will also be available as a tape) and as awesome as that idea is, it's only the tip of a Titanic wrecking sized iceberg folks. Calling the EP DES CASSETTES & UN WALKMAN JAUNE (a couple of tapes and a yellow walkmen) and including a cover of PM Dawn's Sit Adrift on Memory Bliss basically means he touched on two of my favorite classic Golden Age hip hop moments.

First - any 90's rap lover remembers the awesome Nice and Smooth video with the yellow boom box floating in the pool (and probably had or pined for a yellow Sony Sports Walkmen, I mean, they were waterproof) - and of course, who can forget PM Dawn. No, not for the music but for the legendary story of KRS-1 bumrushing the stage and pushing that tubby hippie off the stage. I know neither image is what Antoine is channeling on this time capsule of his musical journey, but we here on the hill still talk about both stories at least once a month, so it seemed important.

So anyway, the EP.

This ode to music and music collection from back in the day is a great stop until the next full length because it really opens you up to see who Andre is. The "EP" is a six song collection of tracks that in original form, wouldn't really fit together on even the most outlandish mix tape. The thing is, Antoine's respect of the songs mixes with his creativity to actually pull it off. I'm not sure many listeners can connect the dots between The Breeders, PM Dawn, Low, Supertramp and Bronski Beat, but his crisp, crystalline electronics and subdued vocals really helps his take on the songs work nicely as a cohesive piece.

He really pay homage to the songs but still makes them his own. Instead of trying to replicate Prince Be's rap, the song is transformed by Antoine's spoken work delivery, but grounded by the familiar sounds of Spandau Ballet on the chorus and the longing heartbreak of the surprisingly touching verses. The slowcore build of Low's classic Sunflower is replaced with a slow moving electro beat and a more Beach House feel, but the core of the song is there for any fan of the band. You can't help but smile as he loses the simple chunky riff and sonic explosion that The Breeders use to drive No Aloha and turns the song into a frigid morning walk along the beach, they type of walk where the chill and greys consume you, before doing a 180 and spiking the tempo and energy.

Honestly, the EP is fun. I'm not sure Antoine wanted to accomplish other than give his listeners song new songs at Christmas, but even trapped amongst the cold textures and heartache, he's shown us another piece of who he is... and done it in a way that brings a smile to music lovers that remember the old days but aren't stuck in them.

MP3:: Montag - Set Adrift Memory of You (PM Dawn)

MP3:: Montag - No Aloha (The Breeders)
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/montagmontag
BUY:: http://www.montag.ca/

Labels: Canada, EP, Montag, Montreal, Quick Hitters

With the holiday season bearing down on us, it's awfully fitting we take a closer look at Haligonian born, France based Samuel Hill and his musical project known as The Centre Piece. This bedroom style project expands and contracts like a heartbeat as Hill adds and removes layers with a deft touch and understanding of emotion, tension and feel.

The EP opens with In Your Basement and an oddly familiar sound. You can't help but think of DevotchKa's classic track, How It Ends, but that quickly changes. Hill adds guitar to beef up the sound, but instead of building and building until he reaches soaring choruses, he retreats. Barely audible textures slowly appear to end each line, but just as quickly fade away.

Sure the guitar bounces around the room at times, but this song works as just a simple keyboard back beat and his vocals. He keeps you intrigued with flourishes, but instantly you realize Hill refuses to force the issue. Even the builds seem natural. This continues on the EP stand-out, the quick hitting Ultra Neon Gold. Hill veers into a beautiful darkness, before adding heavier, distorted guitar work that thickens the sound. The drum clap beat does more than keep time, it gives the song a pulse.

But Hill is just as successful playing a more understated style. Rhythmic Summer essentially uses some guitar, simple drums and traded vocals (courtesy of Eagle/Deer) and the beautiful closer Little Feet draws you close with simple, hollow body chords before finishing you off with well placed flugelhorn. The songs probably shouldn't be as enjoyable as they are, but Hill's voice and emotion shines through, somehow making you feel lost in the city lights but secure with where you are at.

All too often artists flood the mix trying for something epic and larger than their situation and song writing ability allows. Hill, on the other hand prefers subtlety and it's that discretion that makes his songs truly special and more than the sum of their parts.

MP3:: The Centre Piece - Ultra Neon Gold

MP3:: The Centre Piece - Little Feet

MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/thecentrepiece
D/L:: Dedicated Records

Labels: EP, Halifax, Music, Reviews, The Centre Piece

I'm not sure I could have found a better fall EP or a better candidate for the old Sunday Morning Coffee section than the debut from Bird & Bear. This Newfoundland folk duo is built on the crystal clear, traditional folk vocals and guitar work of Jillian Freeman and the drum/banjo/drum machine support of Jon Janes (aka - The Mountain and The Trees).

Bird & Bear are about to release their debut EP - Into the Moon - and the overwhelming sensation you get from the collection of folk songs is warmth. Jillian's voice carries over the strums, keep time drums and banjo picks like a smile that lights up the room. We already know about Jon's talent and unique voice, but he's quite happy to act as a supporting player, laying down drums, subtle loops, organ and some killer accordion (and the occasional banjo line) to bolster Jill's classically trained and perfectly delivered vocals.

Witho all the bands dipping into the classic folk sounds, relying on seamless harmonies and heartache, it's refreshing to hear how Bird & Bear channel classic folk sounds (Old Habits could be stripped from any of your favorite folk records from the last two decades), but use the organ (and every other instrument they can find) and energy to keep the effort sounding fresh. The punchy conclusion to I Won't Go swirls and surges, and floats into the ghostly tones of the accordion driven A Settling of Accounts - a track that lets Jillian show off how effortlessly she jumps into falsetto - but it's the closer that really shows the future of the band.

A Practical Imagination is a seven minute affair that mixes Jillians coffee shop, back porch vibe with a surprising drum machine back beat and barely audible electric guitar that moves in and out of the song nicely. More importantly, it ends the EP on a high that makes you want to listen again. All in all, perfect for a Sunday AM, so do yourself a favor and pick up the EP next week when it comes out.

MP3:: Bird & Bear - Old Habits
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/birdandbearband

Labels: Best-of '09, Bird and Bear, EP, Music Canada Newfoundland, The Mountain and The Trees

Today marks the start of Pop Explosion, so naturally a lot of our time and effort on the hill will be focused towards the influx of talent our city is seeing over the next 5 days. Chances are, if you are a music fan you are getting ready for the big Crystal Antlers show tonight – congrats to Joshua Crew for his most informative and inspired winning entry – but on the off chance you are killing time at work waiting until the shows start, here's a Calgary band you really need to check out.

I was sent a random tip about Friendo, and have to admit I wish I stumbled upon them myself. Basically, the poppy trio is the vessel for Women drummer Michael Wallace to get his voice heard and step out from behind the kit. Naturally, the songs are still lo-fi, but their debut tape shows a warmth and unexpected flair for melody. Counter/Time may start with an effective, low key drone, but it’s the playful, spacey shimmer and bouncing riff that fill out the outro groove that lets the band sink their hooks into you.

Liner starts with the same basic building blocks, but it’s the warming fuzz the trio adds that makes the song purr. In an almost Ginsberg like way, they add an oddly beautiful shine to the gritty sound without ruining the simple, honest feel of the track, but even with the strength of the two opening jams my personal fav has to be Velvets inspired Callers. The beautiful, icy melody comes to life thanks to Nicole’s reverbed vocals. The 5-minute jam chugs along, refusing to stray too far from the simple riff that birthed it, heightening the mood with each passing note.

I know this is a three-song tape release, but it's fantastic. If this was 1993, I'd be letting the songs auto-reverse over and over again on the ole Walkmen (well, except when I needed my fix of Kid N' Play or EPMD). With the other commitments these guys have, I have no idea what is going to happen next for Friendo, but I'm 100% waiting impatiently for any new songs or shows.

MP3:: Friendo - Callers

MP3:: Friendo - Counter/Time
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/friendomusic

Labels: Best-of '09, Calgary, Cassette Tape, EP, Friendo, Music, Quick Hitters

I’m still suffering the affects of the Polaris Hangover – literally, figuratively, visually (my eyes are still burning and my stomach slightly off as a result of seeing Damien’s wedgied ass last night) – but it’s a justified mind numbness. Bloggers are usually pretty independent and quick moving, unconcerned with other people’s opinions of a record, so the fact the last few weeks have been dedicated to 10 records and hours of thought and discussion means one thing:

I’m ready to talk about something else.

Don’t get me wrong, the process was interesting as were the reasons people cited for a record, the experience was amazing, Steve and Liisa did a fantastic job and the performances were top shelf, I just need to get some new sounds in my headphones. So as I sit at the airport, seemingly as far away from last night as I am from home, the new EP from Yukon Blonde is a nice blend of shimmering guitar and harmonies that help push me through the stale air and hours passed in Terminal 3.

The Kelowna poppers fuse 70’s pop with 60’s grit and somehow the effort never seems formulated or contrived. Streets sparkles like an earthier Fleetwood Mac or maybe a more Canadian Midlake, taking advantage of a bit of gritty guitar that tops a thick bass line to take some of the sheen off the affair. Tapes Forever Be Tapes display vocal interplay worthy of The Sea and Cake that helps you overlook some of the guitar wankery that tries to derail the track.

I’m interested to see how a full length would play out from the band, as some of the ideas and sounds they seem to prefer might not work as the number of songs starts to build. Heavy guitar solos seem to show up and sometimes overstay their welcome especially as they push perilously close to cheesiness on Free Your Mind. The simple concept of “free your heart into your mind” sounds like a white kid with dreads-hippie anthem (or something Ras Trent might preach) and the guitar work does seem excessive at times, but with the harmonies, bouncing bass and shimmering notes float you away and help you forget about the weight that often comes with music and life.

The highlight of Everything In Everyway is the subtle power they generate on the album closer. The tribal, didgeridoo-esque hum that starts Nico Canmore sets the tone for the 5-minute affair, but it’s the deft way they handle each layer that is added without overwhelming the gentle crescendo that really makes the song. The banged out piano, drums and guitar surge forward offering listeners the rare treat of a record that ends on its strongest note.

MP3:: Yukon Blonde - Streets
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/yukonblondeband
BUY:: http://www.nevadorecords.com/

Labels: Best Canada Hip Hop 09, EP, Kelowna, Music, Yukon Blonde

I think Chad might just be taunting us now. Only four days before the deliberations for the @PolarisPrize start and he drops a free EP of B-sides that not only show a complete different side to his work, but how quality Soft Airplane must be if some of these tracks are the ones left on the cutting room floor.

Obviously, you can’t call this collection CVG unplugged, but maybe it can be called unkept. He steps away from the pain staking process of layering and looping textures and delivers more straight ahead – again relatively – organic electro tracks. Even more shocking, if the opening few tracks indicate his mood, it appears CVG is also having a lot of fun. Clean beats and standard acoustic chords really come to life thanks to his skilled hands. The double vocals and peppy pop feel that kicks off the collection (Stuffed Animal) is one of the lightest tracks I can ever remember hearing from the Calgarian and his handles it with aplomb. The childlike sounds that form the core of Are You Sleeping? work well against the fuzzy guitar and are refreshing.

Some of the tracks make you almost wish that Chad wasn’t such a meticulous tactician. He's able to do so much with simple electronics and traditional strums that you can’t help but wonder where this style could go. Honestly, when he strips it all back and lets loose, the songs become undeniable. Microscopic World starts with a muddled electro loop and Velvet Underground-like simplicity and diction, but when he throws in the shit hot harmonica and tambourine and gives us a (albeit brief ) organic jam session he seals the deal.

Even more to the point are the tried and true sounding singer/songwriter feel of Did You Find Peace?; a song that softens all of VanGaalen’s questions about the insanity of life and fits perfectly with his thoughts on we are destroying the world or the organic orchestral feel of Soak in Visions. I'm not sure these would have fit into Soft Airplane, especially not after the number of listens I gave it, but they show that CVG has an almost unlimited range when it comes to creating music and the vibe that fits his subject matter.

Here's a couple tracks to sample - including a fantastic xylophone heavy number featuring Julie Doiron and Fred Squire - but grab this free download quickfast. It's better than 95% of the crappy bro-fi, chill-wave nonsense you are being bombarded with these days anyway.

MP3:: Chad VanGaalen ft. Julie Doiron and Fred Squire - I Wish I Was a Dog

MP3:: Chad VanGaalen - Soak in Visions

MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/chadvangaalen
WEB:: http://softairplane.com/

Labels: Canada, Chad Vangaalen, EP, Music, polaris

The number of releases waiting to be covered here on herohill is becoming as overwhelming as one of those inbox/outbox cartoons from back in the day. Throw in the fact I'm trying to refocus my thoughts for Polaris this weekend isn't helping. So in an effort to talk about a few more releases that I've been digging on lately, you get a nice mailbag. Unlike Bill Simmons, I'll try not to reuse jokes, talk about Vegas or mention Rocky or Kimmel.

---

Right out of the gate, we have one of Newfoundland's best kept secrets (outside of Ches' Fish & Chips I guess). Jon Janes - aka The Mountain & The Trees - released his folky four-song EP Hop, Skip, & A Jump to get his name out and the results are impressive.

Janes goes for subtlety over sizzle, but don't mistake his delicate picks and strums for uninspired or tired. The arrangements on this EP rise and fall like a slow beating heart and the folk elements are balanced with whimsy (like the little horn that concludes the observation filled Apartment Song) and depth. Whether it's the banjo that kick starts the tender Up & Down or the strings and horn work that swoop over the touching Hospital View, Janes seems to prefer contrasting elements in a way that makes his songs stretch as far as your eye can see, but still remain as personal as the most hushed 4-track confession.

MP3:: The Mountain & The Trees - Up & Down
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/themountainsandthetrees

---

It's been a long time since we've heard from Vivek Shraya. Who's that you ask? Oh, well even if you don't know his name I'm guessing you heard him completely own Seven Nation Army or heard him trade vocals with one of Canada's favorite twins, Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara fame.

Well, enough of who he was, let's get to who he is. Vivek start working with his synth instead of letting it collect dust and he sent over the first single from his new record. In/Out is a very Small Sins-y sounding jam that is balanced nicely by the vocals of Meghan Tooney. It's a bit of a shift for Vivek, but sounds all good none the less.

MP3:: Vivek Shraya - In/Out
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/vivekshraya

---

If you told me a man disguised under the moniker Musk Ox would write some of the most stark, beautiful compositions based around classical guitar and somehow hit with the impact of a metal track, wow like the organic compositions Sigur Ros has perfected and hush you to silence like a church hymn, well I would have been shocked. I would have also assumed they were written somewhere in Sweden or Iceland.

Instead, they come from our nation's capitol and the glacial paced sound scapes Nathanaël Larochette creates somehow sound like they should be from overseas, but are still distinctly Canadian. The vast emptiness and chill the 5-songs personify somehow feel like winter mornings. Nathanael's visions or more slow moving and cinematic - three of the songs are 9 minutes or longer - but never lag.

I know it's a tough sell to ask listeners to settle in for 30 minutes of instrumental scores without the immediate gratification of a film to correspond to what they are hearing, but the Musk Ok EP can be breathtaking. The gentle rain that sets the tone for entre la terre et le ciel seems pretentious on paper, but is executed so well that you can't imagine the 14-minute opus without that layer. The same can be said with the nature sounds that start the slow picked les plus beaux de nos jours. It's not easy listening, and certainly won't grab you with an easy hook but the 5-songs here display a talent that can't be ignored.

MP3:: Musk Ok - Lullabye for Ghosts
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/embraceinashes

Labels: Canada, EP, Music, Musk Ok, The Mountain and The Trees, Vivek Shraya

Enough with the PEI love fest! I know you might be wondering when our torrid affair with the smallest province might end, but dammit, this relationship has been going on for years. Plus, PEI makes us feel special and always calls us back.

All jokes aside, the PEI scene has been going strong for years and Milks & Rectangles take on across-the-pond boomers is quite enjoyable and polished for a debut effort. Civic Virtues is a concise six-song EP (no song breaks the 3:45 mark) and on first listen, you get hit with the Franz Ferdinand like stomp of tracks like Heart's the Target and Armchair General. Of course, those tracks are instantaneous, but the quartet is far from a one-trick pony. They often visit the other coast and give tracks a gentle California sun kiss to contrast the big city sprawl.

Thanks to some solid production/recording work from IFS keyboarder Dan Ledwell, the six songs really show a knack for hooks and intricate transitions. They play with tempo nicely - the slow grind of Slander Debunked is the perfect chance for the listener to catch a breath without derailing the flow of the EP (especially when the horns take over) - and honestly, if you told me this EP was from a group of seasoned vets playing over seas, I wouldn't blink an eye.

So many bands are ashamed to write tracks that make you dance and hint at dreams of something bigger and better than the opening slot in a shitty club and I think M & R show that even though that's where they are now, only time will tell where they end up. From my chair, it's not hard to picture tracks like Motel Fire Drill booming over loud speakers at a Festival with happy fans singing along.

MP3:: Milks & Rectangles - Heart's The Target
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/milksandrectangles
LABEL:: http://www.thisisnightdanger.com/

Labels: Best-of '09, EP, Milks and Rectangles, Music, PEI, Quick Hitters

For most musicians, the repeating cycle of inspiration is one that is hard to escape. New love, good days, better nights, heartbroken mornings; write your way through it. Everything starts and ends at the same place and sadly, once it’s written you have to sing about it night after night after night. Every time you step on stage, you get to remember the precious moments when you gave your heart away so willingly, but are also forced to relive the excruciating second when it was broken.

I’m not sure if that’s what Newfoundland transplant Steven Bowers meant when he called his new EP Circadian Anthem, but there are a few key differences between our natural sleep cycle that control our days and the ones that controls our heart. Our sleep patterns and daily routine persist without any triggers or clues and the human heart can’t seem to focus on anything but the little things that remind us all of the most significant moments. More importantly, when heartache sinks in sleep is the one relief we crave but can never get.

Bowers is an incredibly talented song writer, creating emotions and characters detailed as chapters in a book - on the atmospheric, piano Sleeping Dogs, Bowers takes the listener back to a small town and painful memories he can't discard - but it’s the arrangements he chooses that really set the tone. On the stellar Sewing Machines, he and Dale Murray harmonize over Brian Murray’s banjo, but he’s just as comfortable on the more muscular riffs of Circadian Anthem and The Hardest Thing.

But it’s the two closing tracks that really grab me on this effort. Comfortably Sweet relies on little more than an acoustic, Dale’s beautiful pedal work (and a gentle hint of mandolin) and a perfect vocal pairing with Christina Martin. It’s really the only “singer/songwriter” track on the EP and Bowers lets his words and their voices say all that needs to be said and the emotion filled track flows nicely into the full band closer, Your Life as a Piano.

With the help of Brian, Dale, Christina, Kelly Sloan and Fleur Mainville’s dramatic string arrangement, the gentle piano number gentle swells as the band adds layer after layer, letting the song grow in front of us and live freely. Steven sounds almost like an East Coast version of Will Johnson, and in a fitting conclusion, the layers are slowly removed and the song completes the cycle before fading to black.

MP3:: Steven Bowers - Comfortably Sweet (ft. Christina Martin)
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/stevenbowers

Labels: Best-of '09, Canada, EP, Music, Nova Scotia, Review