Soundscapes Staff Picks

ERYKAH BADU - New Amerykah, Part One: 4th World War

soundscapes — Sun, 18 May 2008 17:41:00 +0000

With Madlib supplying two of his best recent beats with "The Healer" and "My People", YNQ affiliate Karriem Riggins chopping up flutes and sub-bass for surefire single "Soldier", and Sa-Ra getting particularly behind the beat Dilla-style on "Master Teacher" and "That Hump" (the former tune gifted to the project by Georgia Anne Muldrow, jazzing it up on keys at mid-song turnaround), it's not only clear that Badu put in serious work for her newest, but also that those she selectively surrounded herself with knew they were a part of something big. Right up there with Voodoo in my books...

NICK LOWE - Jesus Of Cool

soundscapes — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:51:45 +0000

Trying on and sending up as many styles as depicted on the technicolour cover, Lowe's debut (released in North America as Pure Pop For Now People at the time) jumps from disco- and reggae-fied new-wavery to 10cc-like lite balladry, rockabilly sass and spirited pub-rock, already cynical as hell after years with Brinsley Schwarz and as go-to producer for Stiff. It's been a few months since its re-release, but better late than never for a mention on the site, especially considering the pretty-much-unanimous love for it among us staffers. I'd be shocked if it didn't end up being voted our reissue of the year!

SAMAMIDON - All Is Well

soundscapes — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:09:23 +0000

Samamidon is the newest release from Iceland's Bedroom Community label. This album pretty much acts as a tribute to the great appalachian banjo player Dock Boggs. It makes sense since Samamidon is best known for his banjo and fiddle skills. The wonderful thing about this album is that it is deeply rooted in the old world but yet has morphed into something beautiful and new. With the addition of ornate string compostions and baroque additions to the songs, Samamidon has crafted an absolutely stunning album. Think Sufjan Stevens and Dock Boggs.

HEITOR VILLA-LOBOS - Bachianas Brasileras Nos. 1, 2, 5 & 9

soundscapes — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:34:52 +0000

Heitor Villa-Lobos was one of the foremost figures of Brazilian classical music of the early 20th century. His mostly self-taught writing style merges rhythmic ideas of Stravinsky with baroque dances, French theory and 18th century counterpoint. He was also a strong nationalist who found common ground between Brazilian folk music and the classical tradition, a technique which would eventually generate his well-loved series Bachianas Brasileras. This 1956 recording features four of the nine J.S. Bach-inspired classics, conducted by Villa-Lobos himself. It also contains arguably the best recording of his famous Bachianas, No. 5 for soprano and 8 cellos.

RUFUS HARLEY - Re-Creation of the Gods

soundscapes — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:15:29 +0000

Rufus Harley is the real pied piper of jazz. He is the first American Jazz musician to adopt the Scottish Highland bagpipe as his primary instrument. He has said the bagpipes are a spiritual instrument as the drone uses the ancient vibrations of the universe. Rufus adopted idioms of jazz, blues and funk into his playing. His technique was quite unorthodox, but yet still incorporated all facets of the bagpipes' sounds. To some Rufus seemed like an oddity and gimmicky, wearing a traditional Scottish kilt and Viking-style helmet. To others, Rufus was redefining the sound of '60s jazz.

SILVER APPLES - Contact

soundscapes — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:06:08 +0000

This is the second album released by NYC's The Silver Apples in 1969. This group are known for building a crazy system of audio oscillators that provided most of their driving bass beats, and mixing them with drums and poetic lyrics. Contact is full of minimal psychedelic electronic elements, drones, dissonance, pulsing beats, raw emotions and BANJO! I love that they layered the banjo into the bassy beat mix, something that makes them stand out from the likes of Spacemen 3 and Suicide, whom the band are often compared to. Tracks like "Ruby" and "Confusion" showcase the use of banjo, and "I Have Known Love" could quite possibly be one of my favourite songs of all time. Bassy Banjo Goodness!

BARONESS - The Red Album

soundscapes — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 17:13:54 +0000

Every year, there's at least one, if not several, albums that if I'd only heard/fully absorbed them a scant few weeks earlier, they would be proudly displayed in my top 15 of the year. In 2006, it was Converge's No Heroes and Grizzly Bear's Yellow House. This year, it's Baroness' exceptional Red Album. A potent mixture of metal, Southern rock, ambient interludes, and prog dalliance, this record is as invigorating and consistently surprising a metal album as you'll hear. Their willingness to inject their music with moments of disarming calm and beauty pay huge dividends. Cannot stop listening to this.

BLASPHEMOUS MOCKERY - Quaking Earth Vibrations

soundscapes — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 21:49:07 +0000

This straddles my two favourite genres of music, noise and new age--perhaps you could call it harsh-ethereal. The title of the album does a good job describing it: Quaking Earth Vibrations. The album is one long piece that starts with the lighter-spirited wash of inspiring flute-loop and static fuzz. It slowly turns into a louder and harsher beast. A very, very nice piece from Blasphemous Mockery (Wolfgang Nessel of Heavy Water, Blood Honey and Bummer in the Summer festivities). If you want a window into the noise and psych-drone community in Toronto, this would be a good one.

TOM ZE - Best Of/Nave Maria

soundscapes — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:57:07 +0000

I put these two albums up for my favourite song, "Nave Maria", which appears on both albums in different versions. The Best Of focuses on more folk-oriented Ze songs and offers a slightly stripped-down version of "Nave Maria", while the album "Nave Maria" has the original version with '80s-era effects mixed in. Nave Maria is a fun album that jumps all over the place, with some energetic and often outrageous Brazilian tunes. The song in question is a very compelling track with percussive soprano harmonies in the chorus and a pretty danceable beat. It drives and accelerates through some pretty interesting guitar sounds, like you're climbing up a volcano that's erupting with diamond lava.

WEATHER STATION - East

soundscapes — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 18:12:54 +0000

The Weather Station are a local 5 piece that consist of banjo, mandolin, and violin. They create a brilliant myriad of sounds that ranges from new, and old-time appalachian folk, celtic, and experimental. Their music reflects the harsh landscapes of the east coast, urban confusion and rural absolutes. This is quite possibly one of my favourite albums of the year. Look out for their monthly residence at the Tranzac starting in December.