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New Canadiana :: Hobo Cubes – Color Exchange

admin — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:05:21 +0000

Hobo Cubes
Color Exchange
(Hobo Cult)
Montreal, QC
::web/sounds::

From the VCR dungeon of Jesse Locke:

It’s hard to pinpoint any kind of hallmark in the ever-swelling body of Hobo errata, spawning endless outgrowths from the hyperactive hands of Cult leader Frank Ouellette. Yet one thing you can count on across the awe-inspiring multitude of multi-format releases, solo/collab projects and transfixing videos is a hazy atmosphere of unease filtering in like night terrors at the edges of sleep. The Color Exchange VHS feels like a culmination of sorts in its 30-minute voyage through the liminal realms of late night transmissions as pan and scanned visions of distressed facial close-ups, sinister statues and bikini-clad beach babes get the creeper treatment with a stomach-churning synth soundtrack to match. 50 copies! Get it while it’s hot…

New Canadiana :: Red Mass // Alexandra Gutnik – Split

admin — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 12:30:24 +0000

Red Mass // Alexandra Gutnik
Split
(Hobo Cult)
Montreal, QC // Toronto, ON
::web/sounds:: // ~~::web/sounds::~~

From the endless quiver of Jared Majeski:

Another experimental mind warp from Hobo Cult. Choyce / Red Mass and the gang mostly eschew melody for electr(ic)onic psychedelic chaos and free jazz samples, trading metallic barbs with Torontonian Alexandra Gutnik. She navigates the teepee carnage of earth tone grids with saccharine drones and an endless quiver of sample-fried expressionism. The poetically warbled (and no less abrasive) “Sweethearts and Strangers” hurls and burls like so many thrift store relics, while Gutnik’s “Chambre Ardent” is an ominous invitation to a minimalist horror show (but is it really?).This split pairs the collective pathos with the lone wolf; a maniacally layered game of ‘she said, they said.’

Red Mass – Sweethearts & Strangers
Alexandra Gutnik – Shattered

New Canadiana :: Velvet Chrome – Hall of Mirrors

admin — Wed, 18 May 2011 12:30:41 +0000

Velvet Chrome
Hall of Mirrors
(Hobo Cult)
Montreal, QC
::web/sounds::

From the toxic concoction of Jesse Locke:

Just in time for tour, Frank Hobo and the infamous guitar shredder JLK drop this CD (remember those?) of haunted ramblings down the dustbowl backroads. As Velvet Chrome, the power couple combines sensibilities to create a toxic concoction of No Wave skree and ugly Americana laced with hits from the cosmic blotter. Though the majority of these workouts are propelled by primitive drum beats and detuned six-string strategies, seven-minute drifter “Glass Maze” is a primarily vocal-based drone, and closer “Miles Away” is one of the most beautiful pieces of Motorik bliss this side of Neu! 75. A merch table must.

Velvet Chrome – Devil’s Gold
Velvet Chrome – Miles Away

Video :: The Haiduks – Use Up My Time [dir. Moduli TV]

admin — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:00:01 +0000

The Haiduks
Use Up My Time
[Directed By: Moduli TV]
Montreal, QC
::web/visuals::

From the time wastidity of Jesse Locke:

Like a third generation DGC Rarities boot melting on Kevin Shields’ dashboard, the debut transmission from Montreal’s Haiduks is the sound of a popsicle turned to sweet, sweet sugar juice. Switching planes from the ambient bliss-out of his primary project, Élément Kuuda, Christian Richer kicks his amp into overdrive with this unstoppably awesome shoegaze pop fist-pumper. The accompanying visuals from Frank “Hobo Cult” Ouellette flick through sun-bleached memories from a found-footage family vacation, serving up a pitch-perfect song/video combo. I want to jump in a lake.

Review :: Bernardino Femminielli – La Montaña del Capricornio

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 07:08:35 +0000

Bernardino Femminielli
La Montaña del Capricornio
(Hobo Cult)
Montreal, QC
::web/sounds::

From the synthetic moons of Aaron Levin:
Bernardino continues to peel wigs and sublimate minds with his vicarious cosmic voyage through swaths of electroacoustic winds and perilous Ace Tone waters. This time we are lead by a transplanted Odysseus, bravely steering Bernardino’s vast synthesizer vessel through mysterious wires and serene circuitry. La Montaña del Capricornio is a continuation from Las Enamoradas‘ granular synthesia, diving deep into the dilemmic waves of warm ambience and dark druid-age. Hobo Cult cleverly realized Bernardino’s brilliance as a double-sided cassette, focusing your energies on the immaculate details emanating through tape hiss and Dolby warmth, adding comfort to the brooding sounds beneath its alluring orphic cover. A++++++.
Bernardino Femminielli – La Montaña del Capricornio – Side A
Bernardino Femminielli – La Montaña del Capricornio – Side B

Interview :: Velvet Chrome & Francesco de Gallo

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:14:06 +0000

Interview with: Francesco de Gallo & Jane L. Kasowicz
From: Velvet Chrome // Hobo Cult // et al.
(conducted by: Gabriel Jasmin)
Montreal, QC
::web/sounds::

It is my pleasure to offer Francophone content for the first time on Weird Canada. This is a huge step forward and one I’m very excited about. Below are two audio interviews conducted by Grabriel Jasmin (G) as part of CHOQ’s Les Artisans du Bruit program focused on capturing some of the fringe musics crafted within Quebec at the moment. We will hear from Jane L. Kasowicz (J) and Francesco de Gallo (F) of Velvet Chrome, a group who poignantly encapsulates Montreal’s bleak psych-dementia, followed by an interview with Francesco concerning his record label Hobo Cult (a Weird Canada favorite) and various solo projects. Gabriel has generously transcribed the interviews into English so those not-so-fluent in French can read along. Enjoy!!

Aaron Levin
Weird Canada / Cantor Records
www.weirdcanada.com / www.cantorrecords.com

/////////////// VELVET CHROME TRANSCRIPTION ///////////////

G.	=	Gabriel Jasmin (CHOQ)
F.	=	Francesdo de Gallo (Velvet Chrome)
J.	=	Jane L. Kasowicz (Velvet Chrome)

G.	::	How would you describe your music?
F.	::	We like improvising in different genres, somewhere in between cosmic-tribal and…
J.	::	Italo…
F.	::	Not italo-disco, we have an actual italian song that’s like a psychedelic horror soundtrack. We also play garage rock.
J.	::	Something like garage-psych-noise.
G.	::	You used the word improvisation in there. Does Velvet Chrome rely on improvisation a lot?
F.	::	Mmm yeah… Sometimes we try to write songs with a fixed idea and work around that, but our songs often come from jamming out.
J.	::	It’s mostly improvised jams that we record. When they’re good we’ll re-work them into songs. Though we don’t always play them that way in our live shows.
G.	::	I’ve noticed you guys exchange instruments during live shows. Is there a reason for that?
F.	::	We both like exploring with a wide variety of sounds
G.	::	Does the sound vary depending who plays the instrument?
J.	::	Yeah for sure. Everyone has a personal style. When Francesco plays guitar it’s always with a no-wave attitude while I’m more garage myself.
F.	::	I’ve started playing drums and when I’m behind the kit I play very square 4/4 beats, but Jane plays in a much more deconstructed, jazzy way. It gives a very different background.
G.	::	Your releases have always been very limited editions of 20 or 30 copies, and the packaging was unique for each of them. As a band, do you have a close relationship with visual arts?
F.	::	Yes. Well, at the start I was making small runs because I was a bit unsure if our material was worth releasing. But they sold out so I made a limited second run. For the new album called Readymades, which is an artistic concept, I wanted to make unique covers so that every one would get a personal relationship with the album.
G.	::	What are your projects for 2010?
J.	::	I’ll be starting my solo project JLK, which stands for Jane L. Kasowicz. As Velvet Chrome, we’ll be releasing a … split?
F.	::	Yeah possibly a split with Hamborghinni, who are two members of Aids Wolf. In february we’ll also be playing Aids Wolf and brooklyn-based Mouthus at Casa Del Popolo.
J.	::	We might be doing an album soon…
F.	::	Yeah, we really should. We have tons of unreleased jams, now we have to sort through them to find the best ones. We also have lots of unrecorded pieces that we’d like to finish.

/////////////// FRANCESCO DE GALLO // HOBO CULT TRANSCRIPTION ///////////////

G.	=	Gabriel Jasmin (CHOQ)
F.	=	Francesdo de Gallo (Hobo Cult // et al.)

G.	::	Francesco de Gallo, you have so many ongoing projects I had to make list to remember them. You play music in : Velvet Chrome, Wasted Widow, Pradada, Hobo Cubes, Cobra Kiss! and your most recent project Magic Beach. Furthermore, you manage your own label Hobo Cult Records and release DJ mixes under the name Hippies Before Priests. Am I forgetting any?
F.	::	I don’t know, there’s so much going on. Lots of untitled collaborations are to be released in 2010 on either cassette, CD-R or free download.
G.	::	First off, how many hours of sleep do you manage to get?
F.	::	Let’s say between 6 and 8. Eight hours is the best.
G.	::	Being involved in so many different projects, how do you keep them independent from one another, so they don’t sound all the same?
F.	::	I don’t know, there’s no clear borders. For my solo work, when i’m working on a loop or a song, the outcome will not be the same whether there are vocals, instruments I used and the way I used them. That usually defines the project. When collaborating with others the result will be different each time.
G.	::	When playing with others do you write the songs on the spot ? Or do you approach other musicians with definite song ideas?
F.	::	No, never. I don’t like… I stay away from fascism with Hobo Cult. It’s a big family with people I love. When they create things I enjoy, I like to put them out as an album, even if I had nothing to do with writing nor playing the music. It’s really friendly. I record my collaborations, even one-time jams with buddies, and even though we’ll never play a single live show, I might release it to cassette.
G.	::	Indeed, except for Velvet Chrome, you have a big recorded output but you play very few live shows. is it because you prefer recorded music to live music or is for practical reasons?
F.	::	Well actually, a lot of recorded material was taken from live shows. With Wasted Widow, we’ve only played two shows, the first one I have on DVD, but then the band has added a bassist for it’s second show and we recorded that to tape. With Magic Beach, we’ve taken lots of material from our last show in late December. A lot of these will be released in 2010.
G.	::	Your label Hobo Cult is the home to all your projects and those of your friends. How did it start out?
F.	::	It’s been a year and a half since i’ve started it. I first wanted to release a Pradada album, which was my main solo project at the time, but I had so much recordings that I couldn’t decide what to put on it. Rather, I made compilations that divided the songs by year and posted them for free on the blog. Then I put them on cassette and gave them out. When I was ready to release something new, I knew I wanted to do it myself. It was just a matter of getting my songs heard by the most people. Whenever I release music I like to try and make it accessible, which is why i’ll post free downloads once the tapes or the CDs have sold out.
G.	::	Are you planning to have releases on vinyl?
F.	::	Yeah, we are planning something with Magic Beach. It’s a recent project with Philippe Lambert, who also plays in Goa, Monstre and Monkey King. We will be releasing a split tape with Ass, from San Diego, then maybe another tape or CDr and hopefully a 7″ or 12″ in spring, followed by short week-long tour in the United States.

Review :: Velvet Chrome – Readymades

admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:49:17 +0000

Velvet Chrome
Readymades
(Hobo Cult)
Montreal, QC
::web/sounds::

Hobo Cult has successfully melted my face with another uniquely packaged artifact from the bent minds of Velvet Chrome. Channeling the traces of a psych-dementia found in the bowels of abandoned structures and drenching it in the New Zealand acid of Wreck Small Speakers on Expensive Stereos, Velvet Chrome provides the only aural experience akin to a post-Warriors Coney Island vacation: desolation, litter, and decrepit rides breaking through the morning light; a psychedelic vision from oracles and witches brewed for your stereo. It’s bleak, beautiful, chaotic, desperate, intimate, and comes packaged in an unassuming, one-of-a-kind CDR limited to 30 copies. A singular sound that will surely resonate with anyone looking for reverberations on the fringes of musical genre. I can’t get enough, so I ask: WHAT MORE DO YOU FREAKS WANT?
Velvet Chrome – Drowning in Space
Velvet Chrome – Etude en Psychobilly
Velvet Chrome – Desert Frenzy

Review :: Wasted Widow – Les Douches Romaines

admin — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:20:42 +0000

Wasted Widow
Les Douches Romaines
(Hobo Cult)
Montreal, QC
::web/sounds::

Rivaling Fixture Records as best-designed multi-format boutique label in Canada, Hobo Cult really delivered with a small package of incredibly wyld and strange music; Wasted Widow being the first of many reviews to come. Caught in the imaginative triangulation of punk, noise-psych, and experimentalism, Les Douches Romaines captures a unique moment in uncategorized music. No-gaze? Adjective-wave? Who cares? Classification will certainly fail when filing away Wasted Widow’s wailing distorted guitar, granular noise, vocals delayed beyond calculation, and incongruent notions of song structure. It’s droney and psychedelic and noisey and weird and awesome! I had to have a time-out in my apartment and re-calibrate my association with commonly held notions of “genre” and “taste.” Incredible (no hyperbole). And, yes, those drums are looped in Skyscrape My Shapes. Wasted, indeed!
Wasted Widow – Skyscrape My Shapes
Wasted Widow – Heroin Quest (w/ Clef Guitarson)
Wasted Widow – Love Child (w/ Clef Guitarson)
Wasted Widow – Hospital Memorium (exit)