CD and DVD reviews
Behind prison walls, what can someone do to have these inmates voices heard? Audrey Auld took it upon herself to channel a creative program for these inmates that are stationed at San Quentin. In doing so, Audrey unleashed the hard realizations and struggles that happen within their walls. Using their stories and experiences but giving…
Pop music could learn a thing or two from Worldview’s “Pop Philosophy”. An album that feels full-bodied Worldview is remarkably catchy with hooks that sink themselves deep into the mind. Due to the wide variety of different sounds Worldview incorporates (often within the same song) Worldview’s sound approximates Beck’s early eclectic and vibrant work. With…
Some aggressive and energetic rock from all the way from across the water, based in the UK and courtesy of Staring Out The Sun bears the fruit of some of the powerful sounds made famous in the late 90’s that still continue on strongly today – they’re completely all the evidence that you need to…
Joe Blessett’s “Excuse Me” is a raw mixture of jazz, hip-hop and RnB as imagined by David Lynch. Employing a noir sensibility to the proceedings Joe Blessett’s work lives in an uneasy haze. Sounds churn, jazz samples are abundant throughout the songs, and well-crafted grooves anchor the pieces in place. Sprinkled above this immaculate work…
Full of passion, Lieder Distorsion’s name originates from a type of German song from the 19th century usually for a solo voice with piano accompaniment. Lieder Distorsion have their own take on the classical origins. Much of what they do feels akin to a new take on an old form of song craft. “Auf dem…
Pop/Soul/Dance/Rocker Craymo (Craig Raymo) recently released 2 hot new singles. The first single is a retro britpop love song inspired by early Beatles, Everly Brothers, Elvis Presley and The Romantics. The second “Be Myself is an upbeat, anti-bullying pop anthem that gives you the courage to just be yourself, no matter what anyone else thinks.…
Karen Mansfield’s self-titled collection is a bolt of energy. Her voice is strong and prominently displayed among the meticulous arrangements. A western twang ties the pieces together as does a focus on relationships. With these songs she manages to weave together a series of short vignettes into a greater whole. They feel akin to snapshots…
Gumshen’s DigiBites is downright infectious. With slinky electro grooves and effortlessly cool vocals, Gumshen shows that electro is far from over. Full of optimism the well-executed works are full of color. Pieces recall many of the staples of DFA’s roster, most particularly Holy Ghost! By letting their sound evolve gradually they are able to cover…
“This Country Town” celebrates the joy of living far away from the city. With a dreamy vocal delivery JR Simmons describes in exquisite detail the sense of community that exists in small communities. Nature plays a pivotal role within the lyrics as JR Simmons shows the greatest amount of affection for things like rivers, dirt…
Into the Further is a refined work. Matthew Santos weaves the songs together. Arrangements are elegant complete with flourishes of folk, classical, jazz, and rock in a perfect blend. The pristine vocals and crystal clear production recall Grizzly Bear’s magnificent work. Like Grizzly Bear the pieces are tastefully arranged. Not a single note appears to…
Nic Nassuet’s “Eleutherios” is a passionate performance. Folk with fire, these songs are short and sweet pieces of work. Everything remains economical. The elements are used to maximum effect as Nic Nassuet dives deep into a sense of honesty, the sort of thing possible through folk and punk. Indeed certain elements of it are reminiscent…
Bill McBirnie is a jazz and Latin flute specialist based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He has studied with renowned American flutist, Samuel Baron, distinguished Canadian flutist and composer, Robert Aitken, as well as Cuban charanga legend, Richard Egues. His latest release see his collaboration with Bruce Jones (Guitar, vocals, Percussion and Synth) This well received…
On April 8, TJ Doyle and his band released their new record, ‘On The Horizon.’ This introspective, heartfelt sophomore release for Doyle is a classic rock-tinged wonderland of exciting performances and impactful lyrics. It delves into some meaningful content in quite excellent ways, making it one of the more notable independent outings of the spring…
I, uh….hmm….I’m not really sure what I’m listening to & watching right now…yet… Even one of my favourite electro-only acts, Hot Chip, has a very hard time selling it all to me live with four guys standing around a bunch of electro pads and rooted in place…no matter what the energy of the track calls…
The Malpass Brothers couldn’t care less about today’s fashions and play music they love. This album invites a number of judgments, but insincerity is not one of them. One pass through this self-titled debut will make clear the objective fact that these young men know how to present this music. Moreover, they have the good…
I have a small area in my heart that belongs to the Punk Rock sound. I often reminisce of my youth and jamming out to Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Ramone’s. Today’s Punk lacks some of the lifestyle elements that those original Punk bands had. It was truly a lifestyle and, for a meager…
Sarantos continues to create pop-rhythms and sweet atmospheres here on his latest single “A Child’s Mind.” Some of you will remember Sarantos from past episodes of our show SBS Live This Week…the man is relentless in his music and work, it truly is to be admired. He produces quality singles at an alarming rate, all…
Independent music-scene…you will forever astonish me with the sounds you put out of my speakers. I’ll fully admit to instantly being hooked on Lola de Hanna’s style & beat immediately as the opening song “Thin Air” burst brightly with exotic sounds and beautiful textures as The Other Side EP began to make its way slickly…
Don’t get me wrong, weather-wise it would have been a bright & sunny day here in BC no matter what was coming through our speakers today…it’s one of our rare April days without rain it would seem; but I’ll absolutely make the case for the sunshine finding its way under the roof here at sleepingbagstudios,…
Craig Coltham’s confident voice reigns supreme on “Watching Over Me”. The sensitivity of the song is obvious. By mentioning specific geography the sound takes on a love for those surroundings. Instrumentally the song takes on a reflective point of view letting the sounds sprawl over everything. With a sense of earnestness Craig Coltham’s lyrics feel…
I love The Vigilance Committee’s Exit a Hero. They waste absolutely no time getting started. Eschewing the gradual they start in the middle of things. Songs are full of energy and emotion. Lyrically the songs follow the lives of James King of William and James P. Casey, with their histories neatly emphasized by the band’s…
Mark A Williams’ song catalog features several beautiful singers with very powerful lyrics to go along with them. The catalogue features some amazing composition, showing off solo singers and creating a balance with strong sections of group chorus. The music makes you feel as though you are standing in a packed church where everyone has…
Female Bureau of Investigation is a project of Sasha Sumner, a singer-songwriter and saxaphone player. With a hip-hop/indie-rock/jazz-fusion sort of flair, Sasha’s latest musical endeavor would be a wonderful backdrop for a twenty-something dinner party or a contemporary art show. The overall musicianship and production quality are of a quite highly skilled quality. On the…
It wasn’t that long ago that I felt I recorded my own music in a similar fashion to what Sasha Leonov is here on Skies Change. I made music that I believed in, was passionate about, I even think they were good songs! But at the end of the day I still hadn’t come into…
Vocalist/producer/songwriter, eM is back with her most personal & emotional piece of work yet! The brand new single is called “When You Were Here” that digs deep and hits a powerful chord. There’s also a “Craig London Chillout Remix” that adds an extra layer of earthy & rich textures. eM takes you on a cool…
The Electro lights band was formed in mid-2012 and consists of Oliver Meacham on lead vocals and guitar and Samuel Mahler on drums and background vocals. Their talent has been recognized by their peers as they have played with a variety of well-known bands and rappers. There you have it. They’re official and so good…
The Chainflower EP is packed to the brim with attitude. With a sound reminiscent of the best grunge had to offer, they possess a biting sound that sets them apart from their peers. Every element fits in perfectly: Erika Renee’s dominating voice, the powerful haze of the guitars, alongside the persistent steady rhythm makes it…
Paula Tozer maps out a spiritual journey on “Cain’s Regret”. Not a note is wasted. The country-influenced pieces carry their own stories, that of regret, that of joy, and that of compassion. With three tracks this is a trinity of emotional outpouring from the heavy to whole hearted. Lyrically the songs deal with different moments…
The Electro lights band was formed in mid-2012 and consists of Oliver Meacham on lead vocals and guitar and Samuel Mahler on drums and background vocals. Their talent has been recognized by their peers as they have played with a variety of well-known bands and rappers. There you have it. They’re official and so good…
Funk never seems to give it up. Since its early roots in the 60’s, whether it’s jazz-funk, G-funk, funk metal, or the more recent genre-bending To Pimp a Butterfly, funk always finds some way to fuse with whatever musical trend is dominant at the time. This usually works out for the better, since funk’s accessible,…
Gretchen’s Wheel embodies casual cool. Fragile State focuses heavily on the concept of nostalgia. This is done through the lyrical content itself as well as the smooth, early 90s dream-pop sound. Such silky sounds from the polished vocals to the pitch-perfect chords. Everything on Fragile State is in the right place. At times the songs…
Yuck! You mean to tell me that good ol’ Australian singer/song-writer Daxton Monaghan has been rocking in some way, shape or form since the early 1990’s yet there’s no official Facebook page? Right now there’s one of those fan-posted fact-boards where you kind of have to cross your fingers and hope that the descriptions etc.…
Jim Pelz’s “Loser Angels” are pure manna from Heaven. Right from the first track the sound is so rich and dense. With these songs Jim Pelz sings the songs of the marginalized of the world. Throughout the album Jim Pelz’s voice and thoughtful lyrics take center stage. His band is phenomenally talented as well as…
So who is Atman anyway? Rapper Atman delivers an edgy and cool clean appeal that’s missing from a majority of rappers these days. His latest release, “Silence is Golden” recently slid across my desk. I’ve heard my share of rap this year, and most of it is trivial to say the least. Give me something…
GLOBALIENATION displays the best of calculated angular rock. Baïki possesses a clear edge to their music. This comes across in their urgently delivered music. Embedded within their lyrics is a message of social justice, a desire to create a more equal society. Nicely matched up with their frantic energy the overall sense is one of…
Some truly excellent sounds coming from California’s innovative indie-rock band Winchester Revival. With brand-new music now out for public consumption, this five-piece band is making some major waves out there online and have already picked up several positive reviews in their favour as the buzz behind this band continues to grow surrounding the recent release…
A uniquely blended culmination of a journey’s beginning. Haunting melodies, and classic strings with a calibrated seduction gives way to the lingering mist of the fjords, and soars us up and over the high reaching Andes. Musically, leaving the listener breathlessly entangled as a lover exhausted and content, March to May debuts their first EP,…
When my father died in January 2014, I did little more than write about him for the first eight months. Poems, snatches of prose, abandoned plays, journal entries, class assignments – I parried with his death on notebook pages and computer screens trying to make some sense of how to move on with an enormous…
Bitter’s Kiss is an album of delicate pop songs. These are piece that are full of emotion. Lovelorn, hopeful, carefully arranged, Bitter’s Kiss is the kind of album that gently introduces these elements into the overall mix. Moody the album feels like the perfect fit for a sleepy Sunday afternoon. Playful at times the songs…
Arstidir’s “Hvel” possesses a glacial grace. Their Icelandic origins might have something to do with this: the songs display true patience. By letting these songs spool out with a sense of majesty, their work at times is highly reminiscent of Beck’s “Sea Change”. Everything works together perfectly. Displaying great taste throughout the album Arstidir shows…
