Moon King – Voice of Lovers (Arbutus Records)
Throughout the album, each track flows easily from one to the next, creating a dance-floor-esque transition between songs. While this is an interesting method of making an album sound more cohesive, it inevitably falls victim to repetition and stagnancy. The opening track “Around the World,” however energetic and poppy, quickly loses momentum as it transitions into “Creep (dance 4 u)”; this is a common theme, as songs will quickly lose momentum with sudden shifts in mood and vibrancy, while still maintaining the same tempo and song structure.(Exclaim!)
Blessed – Salt (Indie)
For the past three years, Abbotsford, BC’s Blessed have been making increasingly mutant post-punk that defies expectations, eschews common structures and forms, and breeds its own alien landscapes. With every single and EP released, the band have spent a massive amount of time on the road, playing hundreds of shows a year, earning a reputation among everyone lucky enough to catch them as of the best live bands in the DIY world. After a flurry of exceptional introductory releases comes Salt, the band’s meticulous full length debut, an album with enough jaw-dropping moments you might as well just leave your damn mouth open. Blending together fractured shards of garage punk, krautrock, post-hardcore, and experimental no-wave, Blessed’s sound is laser-beam focused and expanded further in every direction on their first attempt at album length exploration.(POST-TRASH)
Charlotte Cornfield – The Shape Of Your Name (Next Door Records/Outside).
Cornfield has been working as the booking manager for Toronto’s Burdock Music Hall for the past four years, while offering her drumming expertise to those around her. Recruiting Grammy-winning engineer Shawn Everett, Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew and Charles Spearin and Montreal songwriter Leif Vollebekk, Cornfield has draped The Shape of Your Name with collaboratively sticky hooks and lyrical concretism.(Exclaim!)
Eden Samara – DAYS (Indie)
Somehow making the precise sputter of drum machines endearing with her sweet harmonies and incisive lyricism, Eden Samara shows an affinity for contrast and juxtaposition on new single “Robots”.(Line of Best Fit)
Field Guide – Full Time
This EP is the first time I have ever completely self-produced my music. It was extremely satisfying to guide the direction of these tracks on my own.(Here)
Gino Vannelli – Wilderness Road
Wilderness Road is at once unexpected yet familiar, evolutionary yet home-sewn; with Vannelli playing most of the instruments throughout, the living legend and musical mainstay has added a touch of Americana to earlier influences of rock, soul, jazz, and even classical sounds all recognizable on his previous 19 releases.(That Eric Alper)
Justin Wright – Music For Staying Warm (Sleepless)
Wright’s expressive string work, which fluctuates between agitated movements and slow, thoughtful strokes, ensures that simple and beautiful moments are a mainstay of the album: softly plucked strings dance in the background of “Improvisation”; the sonorous cello notes on “Modular Winter” rumble loud enough to crack thick ice covering a city; and Wright’s chosen tones on “Flutes” expertly match the titular instrument.(Exclaim!)
Manx Marriner Mainline – Hell Bound For Heaven (Stony Plain)
Manx and Marriner have nice chemistry. They share vocals and songwriting, even collaborating on one song. There’s lots of blues trappings, from acoustic guitars to harmonica, but many of their originals have a nice rock vibe, with lovely melodies. This isn’t raw, down-home Delta blues. Instead Manx Marriner Mainline deliver something more restrained and polished. In fact, while Manx and Marriner draw their inspiration from rural blues and gospel, Hell Bound for Heaven‘s best moments are when they refine that classic sound.(American Blues Scene)
Marc Jordan – Both Sides (Linus)
The award-winning and prolific Canadian singer/songwriter will unleash a newly minted collection of chilled out romantic contemporary jazz arrangements of popular songs by some of his favourite composers, along with previously unreleased original compositions. Jordan’s first new solo album in six years, Both Sides is set for release on April 5 via Linus Entertainment.(Tinnitist)
PARTNER – Saturday the 14th
This focus on exploration sees the duo experimenting with variety of styles, from the country bop “Tell You Off,” complete with a harmonica solo and farm animal noises, to the melodramatic power-pop ballad “Les ailes d’un ange.”(Exclaim!)
Pup – Morbid Stuff
The album centers around lyrics about death and literal morbid stuff. The band emits such strong emotion throughout that are clearly present. It delivers everything that PUP fans have grown to love about them while presenting a new era to jump right into.(Substream Magazine)
Saint Lo – We Could Be (Sleepless Records)
The band says of the song: “Blueberry Fields” is that feeling of nostalgia, like the exhale of a sigh. The constant feeling of shifting away from the past, but keeping it close as you move forward. “Blueberry Fields” is about people and places loved and lost, while ever cherished.”(Red Line Roots)
Hello
Hi, how are things off the North Sea? (Brexit responses disallowed)
Back in 15 minutes. Imperious shower.
I wouldn’t know, I’m a little further in land today
I just met Rare Americans, a band out of Vancouver, while sitting in a hostel in Leeds
Why are you in Leeds, if I’m not too indiscreet in asking?…
I suppose “Rare Americans” shouldn’t be seen as a cooking recommendation?
I wonder what *they* mean by that.
It is a rest day in their tour before they play in Leeds tomorrow night
Oh, me, I am hear see Dan Mangan play tonight
or even here
You are canadianer than most Canadians.
road trip!
do we call it that when it involves trains and busses?
regardless, have a great time at the Dan Mangan show @garfieldUK
Blessed – surprised but I like it so far. Surprising yet seamless transitions.
Justin Wrigh – I knew I would like him, trying hard not to make comparisons with Owen Pallett
Field Guide – yup, liking their stuff …
more listening through out the day and potentially more staggering thoughts
I smell. The berry patch now has fertilizer.
Until tomorrow folks
heckin’ awesome show, marred only by Dan knocking of his guitar and damaging the head stock
@Benoit, I would tell you that the Loonie is in the mail, but I am still looking for a box big enough to ship myself to Canada in