MUSIC REVIEWS
by MIRROR MUSIC
November 24, 2011
ALBUM OF THE WEEK
AUN
Phantom Ghost
(Denovali)
Dark ambient/drone/psychedelic duo Aun is one of the most unsung acts in our fair burg, but this new one, by far their most accessible yet, will hopefully change that. Martin Dumais and Julie Leblanc edge a little closer to traditional form with winks to shoegaze and krautrock, while their densely driven drones now shift more easily, with a skip in their step. Perhaps Aun’s greatest achievement is carving out the perfect middle ground between My Bloody Valentine’s timeless Loveless and Klaus Schulze’s Dune. Don’t deny yourself the pure musical ascension derived from casting out all caution and plunging headlong into this. 9/10 Trial Track: “Ghost” (Johnson Cummins)
KATE BUSH
50 Words for Snow
(Fish People/Noble & Brite)
Luckily, Kate Bush’s recent “reimagining” of some of her older material as elevator music (Director’s Cut) didn’t accurately forecast this new record. Like a snowfall without wind, when the thermometer hovers at zero, these new songs are simple, heavy and enveloping, particularly the hypnotic, epic opener, “Snowflake,” featuring piano, her distinctive voice and guest vocals by her son. A couple of other tracks nearly match that mesmerizing quality, but songs featuring Elton John (barf) and Stephen Fry (huh?) merely melt away. 7/10 Trial Track: “Snowflake” (Lorraine Carpenter)
DAVID SIMARD
Slower, Lower
(independent)
The debut album by the “avant-garde” folk singer/ songwriter, originally from B.C. and now residing in Montreal, invokes music milieus from another era, like the piano bar (“Guilty”) and the smoky saloon (“Streetlight Strut”). Simard blends old and new with a clarinet, Wurlitzer and euphonium to create contemporary ballads situated somewhere between country, folk, jazz and pop. 7.5/10 Trial Track: “The Knife” (Shawn Thompson) With Loom at Casa del Popolo, Mon., Nov. 28, $5–$10
ROY ORBISON
The Monument Singles Collection (1960–1964)
(Monument/Legacy/Sony)
At the dawn of the 60s, one of rock ’n’ roll’s most haunting voices would storm the charts with classics like “Only the Lonely,” “Running Scared,” “Crying,” “Blue Bayou,” “In Dreams” and “Oh Pretty Woman.” Here, you get these monsters in glorious mono, but it’s the second disc of rare b-sides that lets you discover this legend all over again. The bonus DVD, featuring footage snatched from a 1965 Dutch TV variety show, makes this utterly mandatory. 8.5/10 Trial Track: “Running Scared” (Johnson Cummins)
NASH
The Death of Reason
(MapleMusic/Shoreline/ Fonatana North)
Thoughts of science and sanity nimbly bend and contort in the focused mind of multitasking local Mike Nash, whose impressionistic portraits of a noggin nudged over the edge will surreptitiously seep into yours. Although set to a casual foot-stomping pace (recalling a 90s folktronica vibe), the anomalously laid-out keyboards and guitars flow to their own impossible groove. Nash’s Strokes-y enunciated vocals serve as quirky cranial tour guide. Self-produced with remarkable poise. 8/10 Trial Track: “Armageddon Dance” (Erik Leijon) Album launch with Tim Chaisson & Morning Fold at l’Escogriffe, Sun. Nov. 27, 8:30 p.m.
CHILDISH GAMBINO
Camp
(Universal)
Troy from Community can rap, albeit in an awkwardly screechy manner, and Camp’s Kanye Jr. beats are far more professional than his previous mixtapes. Still, it’s hard to get excited about Donald Glover’s hiphoppelganger when his day job hangs in the balance—although dropping nerd-friendly references like Toe Jam & Earl and Super Smash Bros. alongside a surprising amount of ho-bashing does partially ease the pain of Community’s inevitable cancellation. 6 (seasons and a movie)/10 Trial Track: “Backpackers” (Erik Leijon)
YELAWOLF
Radioactive
(Shady/ Interscope)
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve already made your mind up that Yela is either a flash in the pan or one of the greatest yet. Open it up a little more and you’ll hear that his debut studio LP lays claim to neither title. The heartfelt, deliberate, careful, dizzying and completely devastating wordplay of Alabama’s mulletted “Marilyn Mathers” shreds like picks through cotton over skillet-fried snares and bayou bass, leaving those paying mind wanting more and praying it’s not a one-off. 8.5/10 Trial Track: “Radioactive Introduction” (Darcy MacDonald)
AIN’T NO LOVE
self-titled EP
(independent)
This is a tale of way more than two cities, and there ain’t no love in the heart of any of ’em. With a little dub in their step, a little echo in their parables and both the “core” and the “coeur” in their choruses, TO/MTL hip hop crossbreeds WrabeanZ match powerful wits and ecstatic fits with producer Liam Clarke to create something altogether different from what you would reasonably expect, much less an EP party-lovers are gonna end up embracing entirely. 8.5/10 Trial Track: “Love Me Lots” (Darcy MacDonald)
RIHANNA
Talk That Talk
(Island Def Jam/Universal)
With 2009’s Rated R, Rihanna turned a dark corner where the once flirty singer went from enticing a guy under her umbrella to playing Russian roulette, and then flirting with S&M on last year’s Loud. And while she may have rediscovered her groove here, graphic tracks like “Birthday Cake” and “Cockiness (Love It)” affirm that this bolder, coarser Rihanna is here to stay. 8/10 Trial Track: “Where Have You Been” (Gerard Dee)
TADDY P
Gimmie di Bass
(Bass Inna Yuh Face)
In reggae, it’s undeniable that bass is the centrepiece. As a bassist as well as producer, Taddy P knows full well how to make a top tune. With a range of collaborators from Shaggy to Tanya Stephens to Maxi Priest to Rik Rok, Taddy brings a soulful vibe to his reggae groove, never forgetting to foreground that bass alongside some great melodies. 8/10 Trial Track: “Heart of Stone” ft. Tanya Stephens (Erin MacLeod)
DIXIE’S DEATH POOL
The Man With Flowering Hands
(Drip Audio)
Dreamy acoustic guitar ditties harking back to Syd-era Pink Floyd are submerged by 140 sound sources, including all manner of strings, keys, reeds, percussion, electronic gadgets and field recordings of tin foil, footsteps and helicopters. Songs ascend from hallucinatory interludes, calm melodies within the noisier storms. The 12 pieces were masterminded by Vancouver’s Lee Hutzulak, whose transparent production defies the density of information. This disc takes the prize for weirdest concept and, so far, top experimental recording this year. 9.5/10 Trial Track: “Sunlight Is Collecting on My Face” (Lawrence Joseph)
MINI REVIEWS
COURTNEY JOHN FT. THE WIZARD “Soul of a Man” (FiWi) If you are going to make dubstep, you could do worse than invite lovers rock expert Courtney John along for the ride. 8 (EM)
DOLDRUMS Empire Sound EP (No Pain in Pop) Montreal resident Airick Woodhead further narrows his fissured, sample-based film score pop sound. Next year’s full-length can’t come soon enough. 9 (EL)
TSJUDER Legion Helvete (Season of Mist) Now reformed after hanging up their upside down crosses five years ago, this Norwegian black metal band makes up for lost time with pure, unadulterated misanthropy. 8 (JC)
DJ DRAMA Third Power (eOne) You and I may love or hate any of the MCs here and never agree on a single one, but put them all together like Drama and the argument becomes kinda moot. 7.5 (DM)
MATTHEW BARBER self-titled (Outside) It’s mostly just Barber’s charming vocals, but that’s a good thing: they can be a commanding tool. 7 (EL) At Club Lambi, Sat. Nov. 26, 8:30 p.m.
RUSH Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland (Anthem/Universal) Another live record? Really? 6 (JC)
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