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June 30th, 2010

Review :: Doom Tickler // Spectral Forum – Teen Steam

Doom Tickler // Spectral Forum
Teen Steam
(Self Released)
Toronto, ON
::web/sounds:: // ::web/sounds::


From the teen steamings of Jesse Locke:
Inside its shiny wrapping paper and tiny Ziploc bag, this split cassette from two of Toronto’s weirdest offers a veritable smorgasbord of smeared sonic exploration. Side A finds Doom Tickler phreeking the beat with goosepimply processed vocals pitched somewhere between Black Dice, black metal and Sméagol. Of their four songs, “School Jungle Mud Pool” is the standout, with its demon-possessed singsong melody, squelching synths and jackhammer rhythms resulting in the most hellish Acid House since Love’s Secret Domain. Spectral Forum, meanwhile, jam-pack the flip with 10 wildly varying selections. From the watery miasma of “Mystic Pointe Mississauga” to the spacey grooves of “Corpse Made of Lint”, dubby ice- cream truck ditty “Heavy Metal Homeroom” and upbeat Moroder-nodding finale “Here 2 Eternity,” it’s all too easy to get lost in the steam.

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Spectral Forum – Here 2 Eternity

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Doom Tickler – School Jungle Mud Pool

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Spectral Forum – Mystic Pointe Mississauga

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Categoria!! compact disc :: New Canadiana :: ontario | 5 Comments »

June 30th, 2010

Festival :: Sled Island 2010

Sled Island
2010
(Zak Pashak)
Calgary, AB
::web/sounds::

Sled Island 2010 is upon us. Calgary’s premiere indie music, video, and art festival is a treasure trove of exploratory stimulus. It’s the largest concentration of insanity west of everywhere (in Canada). Weird Canada and Texture Magazine will be presenting the SHRED ISLAND BBQ (x2), a free all-ages afternoon showcase on Thursday and Saturday at Tubby Dog (w/ Dropping Out, Fist City, Mount Analog, Feral Children, JAZZ, Sans AIDS, Puberty, GOBBLE GOBBLE, and (hopefully) Famines).

However, there is so much more than just our wonderful little showcase (obviously). With over 150 bands, there’s a lot to chose from, so I thought I’d filter the complete list of performers down to a “Weird Canada Selection.” The below list includes all Canadian bands that I have reviewed or seen. I have left off American bands I’m stoked about, as well as bands I’m stoked about but haven’t heard yet. I may have also forgotten one or two shows. I’m just one boy and it’s really late…

Have fun! I hope to see you there!

Hearts,

Aaron Levin
Weird Canada / Cantor Records

PRINTABLE GUIDE
(w/ additional practical info)

WEDNESDAY :: June 30

8:00 PM Seizure Salad Republik Calgary, AB
9:00 PM Bikeland Republik Calgary, AB
9:00 PM The Throwaways Local 522 Calgary, AB
10:00 PM B-Lines Broken City Vancouver, BC
10:00 PM Mount Analogue Local 522 Calgary, AB
10:30 PM Tension Slips The Republik Calgary, AB
11:00 PM The Nymphets Broken City Montreal, QC
11:00 PM Monkey Bamboo Lounge Calgary, AB
11:15 PM BRAIDS Arrata Montreal, QC
12:00 AM Myelin Sheaths Verns Lethbridge, AB
12:30 AM Nü Sensae Republik Vancouver, BC
1:00 AM Sharp Ends Local 522 Calgary, AB

THURSDAY :: July 1

1:00 PM Makeout Videotape Republik Vancouver, BC
3:00 PM Dropping Out Tubby Dog Edmonton, AB
3:00 PM Radians Local 510 Lethbridge, AB
4:00 PM Fist City Tubby Dog Lehtbridge, AB
5:00 PM Mount Analogue Tubby Dog Calgary, AB
6:00 PM Feral Children Tubby Dog Saskatoon, SK
8:00 PM Brazilian Money Bamboo Lounge Edmonton, AB
8:00 PM Friendo Dickens Pub Calgary, AB
9:00 PM Cousins Tubby Dog Halifax, NS
10:30 PM Women The Republik Calgary, AB
11:00 PM Topless Mongos Legion No. 1 Calgary, AB
12:00 AM JAZZ Tubby Dog Edmonton, AB

FRIDAY :: July 2

9:00 PM The Jolts Tubby Dog Vancouver, BC
9:00 PM North of America The Distillery Halifax, NS
10:00 PM Bonnaventure James Verns Calgary, AB
10:00 PM MYTHS Dickens Pub Vancouver, BC

SATURDAY :: July 3

1:00 PM Grown-Ups Broken City Calgary, AB
3:00 PM JAZZ Tubby Dog Edmonton, AB
4:00 PM Sans AIDS Tubby Dog Edmonton, AB
5:00 PM Puberty Tubby Dog Calgary, AB
6:00 PM GOBBLE GOBBLE Tubby Dog Edmonton, AB
7:00 PM The Famines Tubby Dog Edmonton, AB
8:00 PM Stalwart Sons Marquee Room Calgary, AB
9:30 PM The Bash Brothers Tubby Dog Victoria, BC
9:30 PM Hunter-Gatherer Legion No. 1 Calgary, AB
10:00 PM Gyre, Spire & Spindle Marquee Room Edmonton, AB
10:00 PM Slam Dunk Dickens Pub Victoria, BC
10:30 PM Peace Legion No. 1 Vancouver, BC
11:00 PM Outdoor Miners Broken City Edmonton, AB
11:00 PM Shout Out Out Out Out Wyckham House Edmonton, AB
11:30 PM Fist City Legion No. 1 Lethbridge, AB
12:00 AM KRANG Broken City Edmonton, AB
1:00 AM North of America Marquee Room Halifax, NS
1:15 AM Fucked Up Legion No. 1 Toronto, ON

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Categoria!! alberta :: Promotions | 5 Comments »

June 29th, 2010

Review :: No UFO’s – Soft Coast

No UFO’s
Soft Coast
(Nice Up Int’l)
Vancouver, BC
::web/sounds::


From the catalyzed expressions of Aaron Levin:
Soft Coast is a drum machine-laced krautno adventure catalyzed by morbid visions of a future techno. Lurking minor-key experimentalia draggle the distorted grooves and subtle Much Dance vibes while cosmic drones pace the whole adventure. Grip now or regret missing the disjointed journey through Vancouver’s avant-Mise en scène. Conjured by the wyrd mind of Konrad Jandavs.

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No UFO’s – Evidence / Century Park

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No UFO’s – untitled II

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No UFO’s – 00/00/2010

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Categoria!! british columbia :: cassette :: New Canadiana | 5 Comments »

June 29th, 2010

Review :: Knit Prism – Orbs

Knit Prism
Orbs
(Gift Tapes)
??, ON
::web/sounds::


From the Orbic Wyzydry of Aaron Levin:
Mysterious nuances permeate Knit Prisms’ journey into the new age as Orbs transcends the tranquil wizardry of sonambience. It’s a gravitational lure of patient addiction dragging you to the most ambient conclusion; spectral chromes of lysergic waves slowly shifting terra’s organic aural symmetries. Hand-numbered edition of 100 cassettes from this prestigious American label.

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Knit Prism – Streams/Middle Coast/Pan

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Knit Prism – Wayward/East

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Categoria!! cassette :: Format :: ontario | No Comments »

June 25th, 2010

Review :: Parallel Pyres – Parallel Pyres

Parallel Pyres
Parallel Pyres
(Self Released)
Montreal, QC
::web/sounds::


From the fast-build of Aaron Levin:
Another Montreal-Beijing connection reigns supreme here at Weird Canada HQ. Parallel Pyres’ self-titled debut is a looping pop fantasy of eccentric panoramas. Busted Casio drums slowly build into a brilliant hooked-filled chaos of repetition that shines through the churning fidelity. The wide palette of pop simplicity will grant heavy doses of play in both sweat dripping basements and Casino lobbies. There is a Hobo Cult connection and it makes a lot of sense.

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Parallel Pyres – Homebodies

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Parallel Pyres – Swimming

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Categoria!! compact disc :: New Canadiana :: quebec | 2 Comments »

June 23rd, 2010

Review :: Famines – Syllables b/w Got Lies If You Want Them

Famines
Syllables b/w Got Lies If You Want Them
(Mammoth Cave Recordings)
Edmonton, AB
::web/sounds::


From the berserker barrage of Aaron Levin:
The third offering from berserker garage duo Famines is to-date the best showcase of their ferocious double amp massacre. With Mammoth Cave recording pioneer Paul Lawton at the helm, the low-end split guitar destruction and relentless drum-pattern rampage burst through with brilliant crunch and clamor. The grooves on this 7″ can barely contain Garrett’s E-Honda drummery, so play it loud and watch your needle dance to the rhythm of the heat. Sleeve design by Raymond Biesinger. GRIPGRIPGRIP.

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Famines – Syllables

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Famines – Got Lies If You Want Them

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Categoria!! 7" :: alberta :: New Canadiana | 1 Comment »

June 22nd, 2010

Review :: Tonetta – 777

Tonetta
777
(Black Tent Press)
Toronto, ON
::web/sounds::


From the there-is-no-describing-this-confusion of Paul Lawton & Aaron Levin:
Long overdue debut LP from Toronto-based sexual hyperbole that collects material recorded between 1983 and 2009. Tonetta’s recipe for success consists of wasted erotic lo-fi dripping in wet bass, fruity drum loops, and occasional 80′s guitar sleaze; backdrops for his variety show of graphic sexual acts, perverts, prostitutes, drug use, hedonism and occasional political rhetoric. Once a song is recorded, Tonetta dons a costume (g-string, Kabuki mask, demon makeup, etc), takes off most of his clothes, and dances. After the initial sexual overload, a gripping desire to break through the facade takes over. The songs are compelling enough to dive right in and the LP, removed from the visceral overload, allows a new entry-point into Tonetta’s garish existence. As a compilation of material spanning 25 years, the album is one highlight after another, from the soaring 80’s cheese of “Drugs Drugs Drugs” and “I Want to Marry a Prostitute” (which could be a viagrafied Jimmy Buffett song), to the Bowie-esque album standout “I’m Still a Slave.” In the tradition of musical oddities like Jandek, J.T. IV, or more recently Blank Dogs, Tonetta is a mystery best left unsolved. Weird Canada grants this our highest recommendation.

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Tonetta – Still A Slave

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Tonetta – Drugs Drugs Drugs

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Tonetta – John And Yoko

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Categoria!! 12" :: New Canadiana :: ontario | 10 Comments »

June 18th, 2010

Review :: Blue Hawaii – Blooming Summer

Blue Hawaii
Blooming Summer
(Arbutus Records)
Montreal, QC
::web/sounds::


From the summery low-life of Aaron Levin:
Arbutus Records is at the centre of a monstrous pop vortex. Sean Nicholas Savage, Silly Kissers, Braids, Pop Winds, Grimes, and now Montreal’s Blue Hawaii showcase the breadth of avant-pop nuances circulating in their sphere of electromagnetic influence. Every burnout needs a soundtrack to escape the sun; a reason to ride the swashes of summery circuitry and gluey harmonies that crest upon Blooming Summer‘s self-referential manifesto. With Blooming Summer they will reach a chromatic zenith and swim in a stew of summer evenings and midnight exotica. So can you. GRIP.

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Blue Hawaii – Blue Gowns

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Blue Hawaii – Dream Electrixra

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Categoria!! cassette :: New Canadiana :: quebec | 2 Comments »

June 16th, 2010

Review :: Todos Caerán – Todos Caerán

Todos Caerán
Todos Caerán
(Bart Records)
Edmonton, AB
::web/sounds::


From the mid-90s emo nostalgia of Paul Lawton:
When I randomly checked Todos Caerán a few weeks back, I felt four things. 1) Shame: in not running from something labeled “emo/hardcore.” 2) Confusion: for thinking I had long left my emo/hardcore days once it started getting co-opted by Vans Warped Tour and mall-punks. 3) Nostalgia: the first wave of mid-90′s proto-emo bands in Alberta – a welcome respite from the glut of Fat Records wannabes droning on for many boring hours in half-empty community halls. They came as a reaction to the forms that were readily being co-opted. Moss Icon, Portraits of Past, Frail, Angel Hair were a way out, and though it didn’t last very long, it was really great while it did. 4) Inspiration: the best emo/hardcore bands, like Todos Caerán, inspire. Despite already playing in 100 bands, I want to start another group in this vein. I want to play shows with Todos Caerán, go on awful tours, and soak in the idealism that is at work here. Todos Caerán’s first cassette just gets it so right. I can’t wait to hear more.

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Todos Caerán – Comfort in Chaos

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Todos Caerán – The Futility of Fight of Flight

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Categoria!! alberta :: cassette :: New Canadiana | No Comments »

June 16th, 2010

Review :: Kingdom Shore – …and all the dogs to shark

Kingdom Shore
… and all the dogs to shark
(Black Bough Records)
Ottawa, ON
::web/sounds::


From the shark-dog feathers of James Goddard:
Kingdom Shore eviscerates with tense, calculated string slashes. Ultra-violent. Tightly wound. Subtly disorienting. …and all the dogs to shark is a visceral listening experience; unrelenting sharp edges, protruding corners and just enough quiet. There is undoubtedly a sophisticated theoretical framework to analyze here, but that isn’t the point, this album hits you on altogether different level. This is violent music. This is the soundtrack to Saw 18. This is the soundtrack for your next UFC viewing party.

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Kingdom Shore – Stray Bullets Singing “It’s now what you say, but who you give it to”

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KIngdom Shore – Fire knows no one house; fire knows no one woman or man

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Categoria!! 12" :: New Canadiana :: ontario | 2 Comments »

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