weird canada » nova scotia http://weirdcanada.com we are northernly Tue, 22 May 2012 11:30:37 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 New Canadiana :: Various Artists – Khyber Compilation II http://weirdcanada.com/2012/04/new-canadiana-various-artists-khyber-compilation-ii/ http://weirdcanada.com/2012/04/new-canadiana-various-artists-khyber-compilation-ii/#comments Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:30:15 +0000 admin http://weirdcanada.com/?p=10390
Various Artists - Khyber Compilation II
  • Various Artists
  • Khyber Compilation II
  • (Self Released)
  • Halifax, NS
  • ::web/sounds::
From the monomythic archways of Alison Lang:
Halifax’s most endearing/enduring art space, the Khyber, has once again been feted with a compilation of tape tunes from local artists and musicians, most of whom have played/jammed/come of age under the archways, the ballroom, the turret. As with last year’s comp, this is a love letter to something fragile and beautiful and important – moreover, it’s massive (27 songs!), thoughtfully curated and brilliant. There are so many meaty, gorgeous gems here – Monomyth‘s “Anytime” is soaring sweetgaze, while scene vets Scribbler reach achingly fuzzed-out heights with “No Curtains.” The winsome youngsters of ISBN donate a slice of grainy, brainy twang-pop and there are similarly tasty outings from the now-defunct Long Long Long and its ashes, Each Other, risen in Montreal to smile and destroy. There’s a ripper Dog Day track too, and a song from local supergroup Green and Darnelle that nods at the city’s 90′s ghosts and then gnashes them to shreds. Look, I could go on for fucking pages about this tape, I really could, but in the end, I’ll leave with some words from a particular standout, the haunting lament “Wind Came Through” by Former Roommates (who, I think, actually are former roommates): The Khyber needs your love, always, and these songs do too. Listen and linger: this is a sound of a scene piled with riches.

ISBN – Cold Street
Each Other – Fellow Flowed
Green Darnelle – Farewell to Fuzz
Monomyth – Anytime

]]> http://weirdcanada.com/2012/04/new-canadiana-various-artists-khyber-compilation-ii/feed/ 2 New Canadiana :: Hey Mother Death – Hey Mother Death EP http://weirdcanada.com/2012/04/new-canadiana-hey-mother-death-hey-mother-death-ep/ http://weirdcanada.com/2012/04/new-canadiana-hey-mother-death-hey-mother-death-ep/#comments Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:30:12 +0000 admin http://weirdcanada.com/?p=10349
Hey Mother Death - Hey Mother Death EP
  • Hey Mother Death
  • Hey Mother Death EP
  • (Self Released)
  • Halifax, NS
  • ::web/sounds::
From the gripsberg of Jesse Locke:
Down at the candlelit cabaret, Hey Mother Death are swaying onstage in spontaneous reverie. On their lavishly packaged debut cassette, this Granelli schooled duo hovers through an unclassifiable sound-cloud of spoken word, sleaze-guitar and haunted Hohner spectres. The aura of Isabella looms large. 50 copies. G.R.I.P.

Hey Mother Death – You Left Me
Hey Mother Death – Desert of Trees and Water

]]> http://weirdcanada.com/2012/04/new-canadiana-hey-mother-death-hey-mother-death-ep/feed/ 0 New Canadiana :: Dog Day – Deformer http://weirdcanada.com/2012/03/new-canadiana-dog-day-deformer/ http://weirdcanada.com/2012/03/new-canadiana-dog-day-deformer/#comments Mon, 05 Mar 2012 11:30:48 +0000 admin http://weirdcanada.com/?p=10164
Dog Day - Deformer
From the sweetened cusp of Michael Deane:
Adding salience, excitement and nuance to pop is like having a couple-based band that isn’t nauseating; it’s a tough thing to do, and if you ever need some tips on how to do it, look no further than Dog Day. On Deformer, interesting melodies are always on the cusp of sweetness, but they never go full-on, instead they take the infectious side of college rock and marry it to interesting textures and unexpected directions, then propel it with earnest energy. Not that you need to feel guilty about listening to pop music, but this has enough substance, roughness and ingenuity that you don’t have to justify it to anyone.

Dog Day – Scratches
Dog Day – Part Girl

]]> http://weirdcanada.com/2012/03/new-canadiana-dog-day-deformer/feed/ 3 New Canadiana :: Bad Vibrations – Black Train http://weirdcanada.com/2012/02/new-canadiana-bad-vibrations-black-train/ http://weirdcanada.com/2012/02/new-canadiana-bad-vibrations-black-train/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:00:28 +0000 admin http://weirdcanada.com/?p=9876
Bad Vibrations - Black Train
From the bong-water depths of Alison Lang:
From the bowels of Haligonian earth comes, at last, a full-length offering of ruminations and rumble-punk from these three ramblers. Instant hits like “My Way” cut like a knife through an overall atmosphere of groovy murk, while “Muddy Waters” takes you to the rippling bong-water depths of classic grunge. Black Train hearkens back to moments of Moncton miasma while conjuring up an atmosphere of heavy, bleary bliss and magic all its own. My favorite album of 2011 can now become yours. Take a ride on this long strange trip.

Bad Vibrations – My Way
Bad Vibrations – Muddy Waters

]]> http://weirdcanada.com/2012/02/new-canadiana-bad-vibrations-black-train/feed/ 2 New Canadiana :: Lantern – I Don’t Know b/w Out of Our Heads http://weirdcanada.com/2012/02/new-canadiana-lantern-i-dont-know-bw-out-of-our-heads/ http://weirdcanada.com/2012/02/new-canadiana-lantern-i-dont-know-bw-out-of-our-heads/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:00:49 +0000 admin http://weirdcanada.com/?p=9866
Lantern - I Don’t Know b/w Out of Our Heads
From the cosmic murk of Simon Frank:
Cheaper than a leather jacket but equally effective at scaring your parents, Lantern’s new single takes them to new levels of speaker-blowing oblivion. “I Don’t Know” resurfaces from this summer’s tape on Night People, jabbed with adrenaline by drummer Sophie White’s Maclise-via-hambone beat. But B-side “Out of Our Heads” is the true highlight—nearly five minutes of relentless bass-as-extra-tom-tom, high pitched smears of sneers, and a final solo of celestial murk. For Cuban heels only.

Lantern – I Don’t Know

]]> http://weirdcanada.com/2012/02/new-canadiana-lantern-i-dont-know-bw-out-of-our-heads/feed/ 0 Premiere :: Lowlife (trailer) http://weirdcanada.com/2012/01/premiere-lowlife-trailer/ http://weirdcanada.com/2012/01/premiere-lowlife-trailer/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:30:01 +0000 admin http://weirdcanada.com/?p=9611
From the mud man mania of Jesse Locke:
We’re proud to ring in 2012 with straynge tidings lurking in the Nova Scotian sticks. The warped minds behind Dog Day / YORODEO and DIVORCE / Obey Convention have been toiling in the muck for the last two years to create a full-length mudsploitation flick that will finally see the light of day in 2012. Lowlife is a shiver-inducing, psychotropic surrealist drama filmed in stark b&w, and featuring a range of heavies from the Halifax music / art subterrain. Befittingly, the soundtrack is a phantasmagoric blend of self-described “squelch and screech from a bunch of our favourite experimenters”, Seth’s improvised tuba-drone and lusty narration from his German father-in-law, Ogi. Weird Canada is honoured and overjoyed to present the trailer’s world premiere.

For a full Q&A with Seth Smith and Darcy Spidle, please click here.

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From the grime spree of Alison Lang:
Tape number three from the brothers Grundy feels like a lyric poem that was torn into shards and taped back together again, peaking with “When You Can’t Beat the Dream,” a song that stutters and starts and spits, talking pretty about the edges of consciousness and old rays of light. This band excels at describing the intangible; each song’s mathy meat gives the delicate lyrics weight and heft. Quaker Parents are part of a Halifax vanguard making healthy music that’s good for the brain and body and soul, cleverly disguised with blink-and-you-miss-them hooks. These are songs you can hold onto and listen to over and over again, until you get older, until you smile at last in understanding.

Quaker Parents – Get In

Quaker Parents – When You Can’t Beat The Dream

]]> http://weirdcanada.com/2011/11/new-canadiana-quaker-parents-no-crime-when-covered-in-grime/feed/ 2 New Canadiana :: Quaker Parents // Dream Friends – Tap Turns Off // Dream Girls http://weirdcanada.com/2011/10/new-canadiana-quaker-parents-dream-friends-tap-turns-off-dream-girls/ http://weirdcanada.com/2011/10/new-canadiana-quaker-parents-dream-friends-tap-turns-off-dream-girls/#comments Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:00:30 +0000 admin http://weirdcanada.com/?p=8822
From the overgrown dreamscapes of Jessica Faulds:
This EP is a one-two Haligonian punch that will split (pun intended) your lip and leave you sucking its tangy aftertaste till you flip the tape to get another faceful. Quaker Parents bring a dose of helium-inflated ’faxpop that hops and reverses quicker than a Dukes of Hazzard car chase. Haphazardly tossing off bons mots and melodic firecrackers, the Parents bask forever in a summer of magical thinking. Dream Friends crank the grunge dial up a notch but match their tapemates’ cultural literacy and easy hookery lick for finger-lickin’ lick. True to their name, these aural explorers hack at flora of overgrown dreamscapes with serrated blades, dodging overhanging fronds and staring straight into the unreal haze. Grip and ponder: where would we be without parents and friends?

Dream Friends – Aging Sportstar

Quaker Parents – Teeshirt

]]> http://weirdcanada.com/2011/10/new-canadiana-quaker-parents-dream-friends-tap-turns-off-dream-girls/feed/ 2 New Canadiana :: Chief Thundercloud – June Street http://weirdcanada.com/2011/09/new-canadiana-chief-thundercloud-june-street/ http://weirdcanada.com/2011/09/new-canadiana-chief-thundercloud-june-street/#comments Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:30:27 +0000 admin http://weirdcanada.com/?p=8454
From the door crack of Gabriel Jasmin:
A collected batch of strung out six string slumps, some barely audible and some blown-out noisy, sewn together to give a rough impression of Chief Thundercloud’s inner demons. At times so very close and personal, it feels like listening in through a door crack to your roommate playing silently. Side A holds 19 short originals and the B side is 12 surprising, hollowed-out cover songs, ranging from the Spice Girls to CCR to the most uncool, anti-wanker version of Freebird ever recorded.

Chief Thundercloud – Almost Gone

Chief Thundercloud – Freebird

Chief Thundercloud – Stuck Underwater

]]> http://weirdcanada.com/2011/09/new-canadiana-chief-thundercloud-june-street/feed/ 3 Imprint :: Electric Voice http://weirdcanada.com/2011/09/imprint-electric-voice/ http://weirdcanada.com/2011/09/imprint-electric-voice/#comments Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:30:47 +0000 admin http://weirdcanada.com/?p=8333
Matt Samways is a young upstart from Truro, the so-called ‘hub’ of Nova Scotia. Before touching the age of 20 he led the pitiless doom punk of Pig, started the Electric Voice imprint, and played sideman to Scribbler and the Friendly Dimension. He has once again departed on another musical continuum with his latest project, Transfixed, a more sinister and contemplative vision of the futuristic isolation and robotic vocals of Kraftwerk and Gary Numan.

Electric Voice is not exclusive to the regional talent of the 902, but has entertained releases from across Canada, with ambitions to release music from around the globe. Up next is a 12” from Jeff & Jane Hudson, who were part of the New York No Wave movement during the late ’70s and early ’80s, arguably one of the greatest incubators for creative music of all genres, ever. Matt kindly took the time to answer some questions.

Zachary Fairbrother
Contributor
Weird Canada // Lantern
http://weirdcanada.com // http://lantern.bandcamp.com

Transfixed – Coaxial Mirage

What inspired you to start a label?
It was conceived as a vanity label in 2008 with a partner I was collaborating with at the time, who actually titled the label. It was suggested by a peer that we began documenting our releases to enhance professionalism. We had no intentions of channeling anything other than our own material. As our group was disbanding a personal desire to continue the archive still existed. My friends are all making extremely good music and I can’t suppress supporting it materialize.
Since Pig split, you’ve devoted much of your attention to Electric Voice. Are you taking a break from music or do you prefer running label?
I wasn’t really interested in performing or releasing my own music at the time, but I wanted to keep contributing to the physical production of it. I hold a strong value in the aesthetic of sound and its presentation, and the idea of being able to manipulate it is appealing to me. About a year ago I started receiving funding from the Government of Nova Scotia via the Emerging Business Music Program on behalf of Electric Voice. That defiantly provided me with a lot of motivation to get the label off the ground and start working outside the current community in Halifax and Montreal. Though I am becoming passionate about the label, I am a musician first and still focus on writing and recording with aspirations of touring the material. Putting a lot of energy into the label in turn benefits my musical endeavors.
Transfixed is quite a departure from your previous musical adventures. How is it related/un-related to other projects?
The formation of Transfixed was completely organic. It is a collaborative project between myself, Ian Phillips and a number of rotating musicians. We had no intentions of forming a group when we first started playing together, but when we discovered that the house we had been jamming in was previously owned by Ian’s grandparents in the early ’60s, and that his grandfather grew up in the house, we decided to channel our time spent there with Transfixed. It has become an interesting and rapidly progressing project that there’s no reason to stop. Our ideas are constantly abstracting themselves and moving faster than we create the music. It’s exciting and with the lack of expectation we have become more prolific than any other project I’ve been involved with.

With my other projects/collaborations there has been a lot more premeditation on the sounds and how they should be presented. It becomes tough when a collective of people share the same visions without matching the logistics. The extrasensory parts of music can be difficult to communicate. I also work with Troy Richter and the Friendly Dimension in molding his sounds.

Synthesizers or guitars?
Guitars that sound like synthesizers. I think the combination can be a masterful force when properly conducted. I am ultimately a guitar player, but I’ve been spending a lot of time learning the keyboard. For the last few months I’ve hardly touched my guitar.
You hitchhike between Truro and Halifax. It seems like hitchhiking is a fading activity. Do you enjoy it, and do you have any good stories? Have you met some interesting people? Where is the farthest you’ve hitched?
It’s never really been something I enjoyed, but it’s done out of necessity. When I cannot afford to be bussing back and forth, it’s usually my only means to get to practices/gatherings, as all of the bands I play in are based in Halifax. I live back and forth from Halifax and Truro, which are about an hour’s drive apart. Truro is very isolated and is a great environment to work in, though can be compromising with my schedule.

I’ve only been hitching through Nova Scotia and Newfoundland for the last five years. I’ve been consistently traveling this way and have never encountered any trouble. Dress nice with a clean appearance. A lot of mothers have picked me up, also on- and off-duty police officers. The only questionable encounter was a lady who spoke in a thick rural Nova Scotian tongue. She picked my friend and I up in the dark and was drinking Faxe 10 (strong beer). She had what looked like 3-4 empty cans on the floor of her side of the car. It was a little unsetting but she was considerably collected and coherent. She had a bizarre way of twisting her words together that was oddly poetic.

You seem like an ambitious young man. What are your dreams for the Electric Voice Label?

I don’t class my visions with the label as dreams, because I don’t think they are anything we can’t achieve. The people I surround myself with are individually gifted at what they do. Thankfully all of the resources are presented, making it simple to have a pragmatic sense of work. I certainly am young; therefore I am not looking to execute the foundation process in short time. I will keep experimenting with formats and presentation, and try not to exhaust our resources. In time I will spend time refining the label and as expected with any small business or hobby, sustainability is key.

What other labels do you find inspiring and/or really dig and why?
To those who know me this may sound biased because Brett is a good friend, but I really like what he has done with Campaign For Infinity. He has released some of my favourite cassettes in the last few years (notable: Teenage Panzerkorps, Horrid Red, Grand Trine, Rape Faction). I also have a lot of respect for Darcy Spidle and Divorce Records, as it was a prominent influence of my origins in the community of Halifax. He is really passionate about what he does and it shows in his work. OBEY Convention is a festival he puts on every year or so and is the highlight of the year in Halifax, in my opinion. I am happy to be helping him with the festival in 2012.

I have some collaborative release coming out with Danish label Skrot Up as well as works with Montreal’s Hobo Cult. Some other notable active labels: Bruised Tongue, Captured Tracks, Dark Entries Records, FLA Tapes & Records and Arbutus Records. I also really dig the consistency in the aesthetic of labels like Sacred Bones and Night People.

Electric Voice Discography (to date)

  • EV001
  • ::
  • Albino Slug II
  • –
  • EP
  • (Cassette, 2008)
  • EV002
  • ::
  • Pig
  • –
  • Everything Isn’t EP
  • (CD-R, 2009)
  • EV003
  • ::
  • Vacuum
  • –
  • Tormented Bear EP
  • (Cassette, 2009)
  • EV004
  • ::
  • Pig
  • –
  • Elbow Witch
  • (Cassette, 2009)
  • EV005
  • ::
  • Church Hammer
  • –
  • Vol. I
  • (Cassette, 2010)
  • EV006
  • ::
  • Church Hammer
  • –
  • Vol. II
  • (Cassette, 2010)
  • EV007
  • ::
  • Church Hammer/Vacuum
  • –
  • Split
  • (Cassette, 2010)
  • EV008
  • ::
  • Pig
  • –
  • I’ve seen the future and it’s no place for me Compilation
  • (Cassette, 2010)
  • EV009
  • ::
  • Various Artists
  • Electric Voice Compilation Vol I
  • (Cassette, 2010)
  • EV010
  • ::
  • Milksnake
  • –
  • EP
  • (Cassette, 2010)
  • EV011
  • ::
  • Friendly Dimension
  • –
  • Live: In the Pleasant Horrors of Space EP
  • (Cass., 2010)
  • EV012
  • ::
  • Lantern
  • –
  • Deliver me from Nowhere
  • (Cassette, 2010)
  • EV013
  • ::
  • Gigas
  • –
  • Tied Down to the Ones You Love LP
  • (Cassette, 2010)
  • EV014
  • ::
  • Friendly Dimension
  • –
  • Bath Tub EP
  • (Cassette, 2011)
  • EV015
  • ::
  • Duzheknew
  • –
  • LOL HELL EP
  • (Cancelled)
  • EV016
  • ::
  • Wicked Crafts
  • –
  • “No Cure” EP
  • (Cass. (split w/ Campaign for Infinity, 2011)
  • EV017
  • ::
  • U.S. Girls
  • –
  • EP
  • (7″, 2011)
  • EV018
  • ::
  • The Friendly Dimension // 30 Year Old City Hex
  • –
  • “Poltergeist City”
  • (Cass., 2011)
  • EV019
  • ::
  • Babysitter
  • –
  • “Paul’s Cab” Single
  • (Cassette, 2011)
  • EV020
  • ::
  • Monroeville Music Center
  • –
  • Les Defauts des Fabrication EP
  • (Cassette, 2011)
  • EV021
  • ::
  • Milksnake
  • –
  • Lenny Bruce EP
  • (Cassette, 2011)
  • EV022
  • ::
  • Membrain
  • –
  • EP
  • (Cassette, 2011)
  • EV023
  • ::
  • Lantern // The Ether
  • –
  • Split
  • (Cassette, 2011)
  • EV024
  • ::
  • Play Guitar
  • –
  • Single
  • (Cassette, split release w/ Craft Singles, 2011)
  • EV025
  • ::
  • Grand Trine
  • –
  • Single
  • (Cassette, split release w/ Craft Singles, 2011)
  • EV026
  • ::
  • Bad Vibrations
  • –
  • Single
  • (Cassette, split release w/ Craft Singles, 2011)
  • EV027
  • ::
  • Transfixed
  • –
  • Single
  • (Cassette, split release w/ Craft Singles, 2011)
  • EV028
  • ::
  • Crosss
  • –
  • Single
  • (Cassette, split release w/ Craft Singles, 2011)
  • EV029
  • ::
  • Bloodhouse
  • –
  • Single
  • (Cassette, split release w/ Craft Singles, 2011)
  • EV030
  • ::
  • Hand Cream // Crosss
  • –
  • Split
  • (Cassette, 2011)
  • EV031
  • ::
  • Passion Party
  • –
  • EP
  • (Cassette, 2011)
  • EV032
  • ::
  • Cat Bag // Transfixed
  • –
  • Bunker // Body Language
  • (12″ w/ Claire Dragon, 2011)
  • EV033
  • ::
  • Rape Faction // Chevalier Avant Garde
  • –
  • Split
  • (Cassette, 2011)
  • EV034
  • ::
  • Various Artists
  • Electric Voice Compilation Vol. II
  • (12″ Cassette, 2011)
  • EV035
  • ::
  • Jeff & Jane Hudson
  • –
  • In My Car // Computer Jungle (+ Club mixes)
  • (12″, 2011)
  • EV036
  • ::
  • Visual works by Jacqueline Lachance
  • (VHS, 2012)

(Editor’s Note: Certain titles from this discography were not released by Electric Voice proper. As history’s nature is to continually re-write itself, so, too, shall we gaze pastward at Matt’s creative efforts and understand his temporal stream within the vision of Electric Voice.)

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