Last year’s Obey Convention was excellent, but this one looks as if it’s going to overshadow it by far. Darcy Spidle, owner of Divorce Records, has been pulling some strings and has managed to pull in a variety of very excellent local and national acts. I’m going to profile a few artists, starting with the group I’m the most excited about.
NADJA (Toronto, Canada)
are musicmakers Aidan Baker and Leah Buckareff. They make heavy, soul-crushing and uplifting ambient metal (/shoegaze/doom/drone/). Seldom completely abandoning melody and never letting up a wall of sound; Nadja makes some of the most immersive music I’ve ever heard.
Nadja began in 2003 as a studio project for Aidan Baker. In 2005, after releasing three studio albums (Touched, Skin Turns To Glass, Corrasion) and an EP (I Have Tasted the Fire Inside Your Mouth), Aidan brought Leah Buckareff into the project in order to perform live. They have since released 10 more full length albums, an EP, and 7 collaborations. Not only do they have a massive amount of material, but the quality of it all is very impressive.
Of course, Aidan Baker is a prolific artist on his own. Classically trained on the flute, and self-taught on guitar. He has over 100 albums and EPs that he has composed, contributed to, or collaborated on, as well as several books of poetry. His writings mirror his musical style in their darkness, brooding, length, and heresy; his book ‘Wound Culture’ includes the eleven stanza poem ‘Angel Tales’ which muses on the sex life of Angels.
Nadja’s most recent album, Desire in Uneasiness, is a more human offering than their older albums. A drum kit, rather than a programmed drum machine beat, makes the swelling sounds more accessible. While still dominating your sense, they make the feeling less abstract and more like a natural disaster. Seeing this version of Nadja in person promises to be a very memorable experience.
I am trying to clear space for new records, so until May 9th shipping in Canada is free on orders over $45. The usual 4% fee will still be charged for all pay pal transactions. Quantities are limited and availability changes quickly (sometimes before I can change the website). Prices for pick-up and Lost and Found remain the same.
Shipping on LPs is usually around $10 in Canada, so this is a good deal. Check out the facebook group or divorcerecords.ca for information. Thanks.
This Saturday at Common Ground Studios (Hunter St.) Dog Day and Play Guitar will be taping a Pop In Session. Dog Day will be playing a full Set.
First 100 emails get spots, email popinsessionsrsvp@yahoo.com
Cost is $8 to help offset costs of production.
Saturday Dec 8th
2315 Hunter St.
Doors Open 6:30pm
Taping Starts at 7pm (doors lock)
$8
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Dog Day dawning: Hardworking Halifax pop-punk quartet might be the best new band you’ve never heard of - Toronto Sun
Thanks to photographer Aaron Fraser, you see i see rowboats (separate article) (from left on the cover, the band is Luke Fisher, Darcy Fraser, Lisa Lipton, Will Robinson and Solomon Vromons).
Keep your eyes and your ears on these 16 local bands and musicians
. Some are new on the scene, others are veterans tackling new projects. They may already have a recording or a CD in the works, but all are poised to be the next big thing. Written by Mark Black, Sean Flinn, Stephanie Johns, Mike Landry and Shannon Webb-Campbell.
Myles Deck and the Fuzz
Gearing up to release their new album, Beware! The Fuzz this Saturday at the Attic, Myles Deck and The Fuzz (Myles Deck on vocals, Dale Boudreau on bass and guitar, Travis Davis on guitar, Al Hoskins on bass and Jordan Oakie on drums) together play quite the mixed bag of blues, country, surf, straight-ahead “blue-collar classic rock” and punk.
“Despite all the differences in our taste for music, we can at least agree on one band, The Dead Kennedys,” says Deck. “There’s also an interest in ’60s surf, country and blues and all of that Americana stuff. Can’t forget about The Stooges, either.”
A familiar-sounding mix of classics and trashiness, a listen to their debut album (on From Here to There Records) highlights Deck’s strong vocals. He can pull this off and really sell it at the same time. Switching effortlessly from speaking to screaming, and using a judicious hand with the distortion, the lyrics also stay in the retro theme.
“I was a big fan of sci-fi/horror movies and comics as a kid. I think these themes find their way into my songs. There’s also a lot of everyday grief I write about,” says Deck. “I’m pretty new to songwriting and I think it’s going to take a while before I can really tap into those good vibrations.” (SJ)
Check out the article online or pick up a copy of the issue to read profiles on:
Sarah Barrett-Ives, Black Moor, Construction and Destruction, Erin Costelo, Criminal Intent, Goodbye Generation, The Medium Mood, The Memories Attack, Money over Bitches, Play Guitar, The Rhythm Method, Rule of Thumb, Take On Me, Vennt and Zumbini Circus.
Kudos to the writers and the Coast for picking such a eclectic mix of acts to focus on and introduce to readers.
Vision Correction (Divorce)
There’s no doubt that Halifax’s Be Bad know how to bring the noise,
recalling the glory days of Am Rep, but instead of merely annoying
like talentless brats, they engage every step of the way. Comparisons
to Scratch Acid are there, as well as the bad acid trips of the Cows,
but Be Bad definitely carve out their own sound on mathematical “Dead
Head” and the psychedelic “Battle Dick.” In these days when anybody
with guitar pedals and a laptop can become card-carrying noise
musicians, it’s nice to hear some who can sidestep the childish
tantrums and actually rock like fuck.
Be Bad’s new full-length is now official. Thanks to everyone who pre-ordered. I sent all the packages on Monday. Canadians should have them already. Everyone else: your shit will be there soon.
If you don’t have a copy yet, check our site to order. You can also sample every track and download the album at Zunior. Record stores and distros can contact me or deal directly with Scratch Records .
Oh, and most college radio stations have a copy. Make a request!
Be Bad Coast to Coast - They leave today:
19 Jul 2007
Boy’s and Girl’s Club w/ Genetic Angry + Truro, Nova Scotia
I plan on doing more with this later but for anyone interested in exploring, - here are a number of East coast based labels and collectives covering pretty much everything [explore].
The site for From Here To There [our label] launches next week.
