Our Fall
Great Aunt Ida
April 3 - April 9
Welcome to April the month of rain in Vancouver and to celebrate all this doom and gloom (of which, thanks to global warming, we haven't really seen any of) the month of April will feature only Vancouver-based artists. The first of which is Great Aunt Ida. I saw GAI the same night as the Breastfeeders and the group seemed a bit out of place following the lineup of a hard-hitting quebecois electronic group and then preceding punk-rockers Bend Sinister and the energetic Breastfeeders. Yes, Great Aunt Ida made their mark that night through quiet minimalistic melodies featuring piano and trumpet with the tiny voice of Ida Nilsen adding the sufficient haunt and wistfulness.
The standout tracks (with only a few days on the go) are Corners and Macarena (the latter seems another playful contrast). The bluesy touches on "Corners" brings to mind a softer version of Fiona Apple's "Criminal." The lyrics, full of 'dailyness' and individual conceits, give the impression of a feminized Hayden.
All in all, "Our Fall" has some real gems but this is no diamonds in the rough scenario as the rough itself is still very listenable. Find out more about Great Aunt Ida and Our Fall at www.newmusiccanada.com and their website here.
***.5 / 5 (Still under review)
Secret House Against the World
Buck 65
March 27 - April 2
Buck 65 comes across as a kind of spoken-word cowboy rap. His gravelly voice steers clear of the cliched rap / hip hop of mainstream music and the beat is more of an electronic ambiance while being as far apart from the Beastie Boys as one might imagine.
Not to establish Buch 65 by what he is not, but this is definitely an artist that seems to cut his own path away from the herd which is best demonstrated on the heavily synthesized Devil's Eyes track and then again on its own remix done with a piano accompaniment sans digitization and all in French.
The best tracks on the album by far are the most introspective and somber pieces which include "The Suffering Machine" and "Surrender to Strangeness". In the former, Buck's call to a "black angel" to "carry me down" in his low rumble is immediately reminiscient of Johnny Cash.
For more information on Buck 65 check out www.newmusiccanada.com and his own site www.buck65.com
****.5 /5
4 comments:
There is a guy you should check out when he comes to town. B. A. Johnston http://www.justfriends.ca/ba/ or http://www.myspace.com/bajohnston
) He is some what in the vain of the Moldy Peaches. He is playing here twice in a week. The first time he is playing is April 28th at the Columbia with the local Mr. Plow (http://www.myspace.com/mrplow ).That will be more of a full on musical/comdey night. The second night he is playing it will be at Pat's pub on May 6th with the local indie band, Cadeaux (http://www.myspace.com/cadeaux). I think Aaron is only going to the second show. He loves B.A. Johston too.
Thanks for reading I'll be sure to check them out. Will be hitting up Arts County Fair Friday, excited to see the Pornographers and the Weakerthans live.
Should swing by the show if weren't planning to already; tickets are $25 or something. $3 beers I've heard and goes from 12:00 - 8:00 with another 3 bands + DJs...
some great selections and alternatives. and nice variations.
not canadian, but might be of interest... the bellrays. nice funk, blues, soul, mixed in with some edgy rock.
can't wait for next week's...
oh wait a sec! i've got it already. make that can't wait for the following week's... ;)
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