Reviews by Mark Anthony Brennan
‘Primitive Feelings’ Volumes 1 and 2 by The High Dials
(Montreal)
Will psych rock ever end? With The High Dials we certainly hope not. The Montreal band takes the dreamiest, hippy-dippy music from the late ‘60s and adds a cool modern, urban flair. “City of Gold”, for example, has a slinky rhythm and a refreshing breezy feel, while “Fear of Heights” features ethereal vocals along with a fat bass-line that owes more to funk than anything else. Even the tracks that come closest to a “true” classic sound (e.g. the Kinks-influenced “Employment and Enjoyment”) have elements of modern soul and even shoegaze.
‘Primitive Feelings’ Volumes 1 and 2 is a delightful and clever blend of styles that makes for a trippy, cool, exciting, and groovy ride.
Killer Track: “My Dream Addiction”
‘Pity Party’ by Slut Prophet
(Calgary)
Despite being noisy and lo-fi, ‘Pity Party’ isn’t just another blast of punk from the prairies. Witness “Cyclops”, a 9 minute-plus epic of subdued, bass-heavy post-rock meanderings, while “Jesse’s Song” could be a lively pop song if it wasn’t for the weird downbeats and off-notes.
Gutsy and angry, yes, but the record has a street-prophet lyricism that shines brighter. On the opening track (“I’ve Been Waiting for This Moment”) we are treated to a story about a woman who believes her dentist is in love with her. Well, he does allow her to suck his fingers, which is kind of a f’d up thing to do if you’re not love with someone, isn’t it?
Killer Track: “I’ve Been Waiting for This Moment”
‘Foreign Bodies’ by Sunglaciers
(Calgary)
Shoegaze ain’t dead, Sunglaciers have just taken it and bent it to their will. There are indeed washes of guitar and subdued vocals, but the Calgary band are more celebratory in their delivery. Tracks like “Through the Screen” are lively, garage-rockers but they inevitable end up in one of Sunglaciers’ great jams.
However, even in their sweetest moments, such as on “Blood”, there are disconcerting edges. It all makes for a highly satisfying package.
Killer Track: “Dream Fever”
‘Warrior Down’ by Whoop-szo
(Guelph)
The cover of ‘Warrior Down’ has a photo of band member Adam Sturgeon’s grandfather, as the album deals extensively with Sturgeon’s life as an Anishinaabe-Canadian (including the closing track “Cut Your Hair”, which addresses his grandfather’s experience in the residential school system).
This background lends gravitas to the proceedings, but it’s not as if Whoop-szo needs it. After all, they revel in noisy, almost bombastic, rock and ‘Warrior Down’ is no exception. The opening of “Gerry” comes down on you like a ton of discordant bricks, and no amount of melody in the song can dig you out. Even when they “lighten up” (ha!), such as at the opening of the tracks “2CB” and “Long Braided Hair” it isn’t long before the deluge begins.
Killer Track: “2CB”
‘Death Drive’ by Debby Friday
(Vancouver)
After last year’s ‘Bitchpunk’ it was hard to imagine Debby Friday upping her game, and yet she did. ‘Death Drive’ is more powerful, more harrowing and more creative.
Her beats and rhythms are unrecognizable as any musical genre — they are simply devastating. “Tear the Veil” opens things up with post-punk gloominess and unnerving vocals by Friday (aren’t they always?), while “Fatal” has an icy, industrial beat. Perhaps craziest of all is “Good and Evil” with its drum’n’bass motif messed over with insane guitar bursts and angry yelling.
‘Death Drive’ is one of the boldest (and frightening) statements in Canadian music this year.
Killer Track: “Good and Evil”
Irregular Dreams 