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Rabbit tracks
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Microbunny’s 24-karat bedroom pop
by
JOHNSON CUMMINS
 Home
recording technology has never been more affordable or easy. Now, oodles
of ’pooter nerds are dropping out of their fantasy-game chatrooms
and loading up Cubase software on their G4s. They’re finding out
that anybody able to create a drum loop can be a recording artist.
Okay, now here’s the rub—the amount of crap coming out of
people’s computers and being burned onto CD is astounding. However,
Al Okada and Tamara Williamson’s Microbunny, based in Toronto,
is another thing altogether. Each song is based on drones, interwoven
with minimal beats, delayed guitars and upright bass, with Williamson’s
sweet and unique vocals strewn over top.
If Okada’s delayed guitar and Williamson’s breathy croon sound
a bit familiar, it may be because they were longtime members of Can-con
indie contenders King Cobb Steelie and Mrs. Torrance, respectively.
“I really learned a lot from being in King Cobb Steelie. I got
to work with amazing producers like Steve Albini, Guy Fixsen and Bill
Laswell. Working with people like that, you can’t help but absorb
that in and just become better as a player.”
Despite really finding a place in King Cobb Steelie, Okada’s leaving
proved to be the best creative decision he could make. “Due to
touring constrictions, I really had to choose between leaving the band
or quitting my day job. I’ve always liked to separate money from
music so I can just make music for its own sake and not have to depend
on it for money.”
Okada chooses to make his own samples instead of pilfering through records.
“I’m a great admirer of people who can take samples of other
people’s stuff and turn it into their own thing. That is really
an art form unto itself and I figured if they’re so good at it,
why even try? If I used myself as a sample source, it would really take
on its own identity. I have tried taking other people’s stuff but
if I know it’s not me playing everything I just don’t have
the same closeness with it.” :
With Sianspheric
at la Sala Rossa on Saturday, March 23, 9pm, $10
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