by SCOTT C

Right off the top, I'd like to congratulate Ric'key Pageot and Dessy Di Lauro on the new addition to their musical family. Study of a Woman's Soul is the first studio recording for this creative team, a love child they've been trying to spring on the world for a while, with the butter vocals of Dessy in the spotlight. If you've ever seen this outfit live, then you're probably wondering where you can get your hands on a copy of this CD. Check out www.frangold.com for first dibs, where you can pick it up for a cool 10 bucks. Apparently, my copy is in the mail.

This Sunday, Aug. 22, Montreal wordsmith Wize takes over le Swimming for the official CD release party for his new joint Rap Religion. With the main man headlining the event, you can also check out live performances from Kamikazi, Vik and Estrella & TFC throughout the night. The first 100 people through the door will get a free copy of Rap Religion placed in their hands, so get there first! Doors are at 8 p.m., with an $8 in for the people. Don't know about Wize? You can get all the info you need at www.wizebeats.com.

While I'm talking about Montreal next shit, guess who's teaming up with boxer Otis Grant for their first single? Island City Monsters alumni Eye 2 Eye are donning the gloves for their first vinyl release "Thought Boxing" and Otis Grant is guesting on the track. The group was introduced to the boxer by radio-head Duke Eatmon when they were both being interviewed for a show on the very same night. Now I know Eye 2 Eye have it locked, but nobody told me that Otis had skills too. Check out the official release party on Tuesday, Aug. 31, at Nexxt.

Have you noticed it's gettin' kinda Halifax up in here? Maybe you don't know anyone from out East personally, but I bet you sat beside someone on the bus yesterday who was a full-fledged Haligonian and you didn't even know. To make a long story short, Hally's own Skratch Bastid (now one of us) is playing at Kobal's Bustin' Loose night down at Blizzarts this Friday, Aug. 20. He's got skills, and God knows every Halifax trailer-park Buddhist rapper-DJ-musician now residing in MTL will be there to support, no doubt. Don't miss.

Although you probably didn't even notice I was gone, I'm home from my mountain getaway this week, fresh as a daisy from lots of sleep and a break from smoke and shitty food. B.C. was great, but I get kinda nervous when too many people are wearing boat shoes and Dockers. Weather was great, but I'm glad to be back as there is still something ultimately soothing about the lazy bustle of Montreal. I'm looking forward to The Goods on Aug. 28, too (www.offthehook.ca/thegoods), seeing as I haven't really heard any music at all on this trip. Big thanks to Mark, Margie and little Indy up on Matterhorn for making me feel right at home…

Coulda, woulda, shoulda… fathead@videotron.ca

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