(Toronto) The Flemish Eye is a knot mainly used when attaching hooks, rings and swivels to wire, but can also be used to rig a loop on heavy mono line. It is also an indy lable based out of Calgary that supports such Canadian acts as Chad VanGaalen and WOMEN.

Chad VanGaalen is a 2007 Polaris Prize nominee who will be visiting Toronto on October 4th. I heard Chad interviewed on the CBC when he toured after his 2006 release, Skelliconnection, when he said that at his live shows, he wasn’t going to play any songs from his album. Chad has been making music for a long time and has a vast catalogue of basement and new recordings to draw from. I suspect that he will be play tracks from his latest, Soft Airplane this time around. Chad is also an animator and does his own videos. Check out his new video below for Molton Light.

Another Flemish Eye artist, WOMEN, released their self titled full length back in July and it has been making a bit of a buzz. It is set to be released in the states in October on Jagiaguwar (Oakkervil River, Ladyhawk, Black Mountain) which is pretty impressive. Have a listen to Black Rice below. I like it. Getting to Chads’ show early to check out WOMEN might be well worth it.

Chad and WOMEN are at the El Mocambo here in Toronto on Saturday, October 4th. The original venue was the Mod Club, so take notice of this change - $13.50. It’s an early one, doors @ 6:30 PM/Show @ 7:15 PM

 

 Women - Black Rice (2008): Play Now

Just Friends is a record label based out of Halifax. It was started up by two guys, Mat and Dave. These two guys also host a radio show/podcast called Lets Get Baked With Mat and Dave. The hour long show consists of Mat and Dave, in the kitchen, cooking up a meal with a different musical guest each week. As far as musical guests go, Mat and Dave have the Canadian scene covered. A quick glace at past shows includes Immaculate Machine, Jenn Grant, Jill Barber, Buck 65, and Ninja High School. Chances are if you are a Canadian band and have played a gig in Halifax, then you have been on Lets Get Baked.

As far as Just Friends artists go, I am going to so some pushing for Laura Peek And The Winning Hearts. Laura was in Toronto a couple of weeks ago for the Over The Top Festival. When I noticed that she was going to be in town, I rushed down to her show at the last minute to see what I could catch, and to also pick up a CD. When I got to the church, the girl working the door told me that I had missed her set and that she didn’t bring any CDs with her. I have since received Lauras’ latest release, From The Photographs (2007) compliments of Laura herself. It is fantastic.

What to write about Laura Peek? Ummm “…piano pop from a charming musical hostess…” is a good place to start. I would describe it as hotel lounge pop. Simple, catchy and memorable. Lots of piano and lots of Laura. On The Verdict, she throws in a hint of an electric guitar to give the song a little bit of edge. Stand Right There is a head bopper with a solid bass line.

If you want to hang out,
You can give me a shout
But its not a possibility

Yah, i’ve known girls like this before. She probably only dates musicians too. Her album art/press photos are fantastic too. If you have a look through her press photos on her site, you will see some pretty fantastic dresses, much like the ones in the Stand Right There video below. Sharp.

Quote from Laura: As far as band news goes, my old bass player relocated to Montreal so I have a new one: Mike O’Neill! This is super exciting for me because I love Mike and his music.

Also check Just Friends cast member, Brent Randall & His Pinecones. Have a look for his latest release We Were Strangers in Paddington Green out some time soon.

Sir, Handsom Records (and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) is home to Maybe Smith (Colin Skrapek). Maybe Smith has been making his brand of sample-heavy, lo-fi indy rock for a few years now. Right now Maybe Smith has a free EP, Snowmen & Scientists, available for download on the Sir, Handsome Records website. Have a listen to Mr. Grizzly Bear below. I like it. On Snowmen & Scientists, Maybe Smith samples classic pop songs by the The Ronettes, The Crystals, The Shirelles and others. Mr. Grizzly Bear is a sample of The Crystals classic Then He Kissed Me.

Here is an excerpt from the 2007 year end blog entry that I thought was pretty inspiring:

“Industry folks big and small can complain all they want about declining record sales, but if I can record something in my bedroom, easily release it independently however I choose to do so, and see it virally put smiles on faces from Toronto to Tokyo, then that’s pretty fucking special.” (Colin Skrapek)

Next Show: Maybe Smith is in Toronto for CMW at the Horseshoe on Saturday, March 8th. This is going to be a must see for sure. Get there early, Maybe Smith is opening up the night.

(The Crystals - Then He Kissed Me via Goodfellas)

 

 Maybe Smith - Mr. Grizzly Bear (2007): Play Now

Here is all that you need to know about the current roster of Montreal based Secret City Records artists:

Miracle Fortress - Nominated for the 2007 Polaris Music Prize
Patrick Watson - Won the 2007 Polaris Music Prize
Plants And Animals - Will be nominated for the 2008 Polaris Music Prize

Taken from the Secret City website:
(regarding their logo)…as a façade, it’s also an affront to the posturing and empty branding behind so much of the music industry fixated on fabricating fleeting tastes rather than supporting or helping document sounds that will endure which is what we think a record label these days should do.”

Well put.

Next Release: Plants And Animals first full length Parc Avenue hits the shelves on February 26th.

Plants and Animals make good music that will get your heart going, slow it down, then jack it up again when you’re not expecting it. Remember when you used to get high in-between classes in high school and listen to OK Computer in the back seat of your best friends Geo Metro? Yah, Plants and Animals are kind of like that, but different. When Pitchfork reviews Parc Avenue in a few weeks, I suspect that it is going to be up there with the Panda Bears and Deerhoofs of the Pitchfork world. Plants and Animals make music with that art school, experimental feel that they get all hot and botherd by over there. As they should because I have really enjoyed their 25 minute EP over the past few months.

Next Show: You can catch Plants And Animals at the Drake here in Toronto on February 21st.

 

 Plants and Animals - Lola Who (2007): Play Now

White Whale Records is a Los Angeles based label that formed in 1965 and was home to the legendary surf music band “The Turtles”. What? No wait….that isn’t it. White Whale Records is a Vancouver based indy label that is home to such bands as Octoberman, The Mohawk Lodge and Culture Reject. I guess record label names are in short supply, kind of like Canadian Football Leage team names. If you email White Whale, then chances are you will get a reply from either Ryder Havdale (Mohawk Lodge) or Marc Morissette (Octoberman).

Quote From The Label: Play your heart out, (Ryder Havdale, The Mohawk Lodge)

Next Show Check out Octoberman in Toronto during Canadian Music Week in March

Next Release: Culture Reject, some time early 2008.

Cutlture Reject (Michael O’Connell) was at Pop Montreal this past year, and also played at the White Whale Show at CMJ in New York along side the Mohawk Lodge and Octoberman. He is sometimes backed up by vocalist Karri North or a thick wall of saxophone and trumpets. A thick wall of saxophone and trumpets you say? Hmmm…sounds interesting.

I included a couple of songs compliments of Ryder over at the label. The first is track from the upcoming Culture Reject album which will be out early this year. The second one is the Octoberman track “Run From Safety”. This tune was nominated as the ‘Best Song to listen to in the Fetal Position’ category for CBC Radio 3’s year-end ‘Bucky’ Awards. If you are a fan of Young Galaxy, then you should give this one a try for sure.

 

 Culture Reject - Inside The Cinema (2008) [3:48m]: Play Now

 

 Octoberman - Run From Safety (2007) [5:03m]: Play Now

Kelp Records was founded in 1994 in Frederiction by Jon Bartlett, but is now located in Ottawa. Enough about that, lets talk music.

Jim Bryson

Jim Bryson. Jim has been making solo records since 2000 and has backed other Canadian talent such as Kathleen Edwards, Sarah Harmer and The Weakerthans. His latest release, Where the Bungalows Roam (2007), is available for streaming on the Kelp site. It is worth a listen. It reminds me a lot of Luna. I can picture myself listening to Jim’s cd driving down a snowy country road, not being in a hurry to get to wherever I am going, or dancing with the one I love in my living room. For a country pop, singer, songwriter, Where The Bungalows Roam has quite a wide range of appeal. There is something for everyone. You can catch Jim Bryson February 26th at the Dakota Tavern in Toronto. I’ll see you there.

Quote from the label: “As for quotes, what can I say? We are coming up on our 14th anniversary this spring, and I am blessed to be able to work with such a strong stable of talent, and very appreciative of the kind words, emails and attention that our artists have been getting of late. Kelp is really looking forward to 2008!” (Jon Bartlett)

Hilotrons

Next Kelp Release: April 1st. A new HILOTRONS album called Happymatic.

I first heard of the Hilotrons via their Science Fiction Music single a few years ago. It seems they used to play it every Saturday night on the CBC radio show (RIP). Jon was nice enough to give me an advance listen to the Hilotrons upcoming release, Happymatic, and let me tell you, it was a pleasant surprise. No wait, let me rephrase that, it was a freaking awesome surprise. In listening to it from start to finish, I really got the sense that the band went into the studio and wanted to ‘try’ a bunch of things. The things they tried really work. This list includes some power pop (Lost In Yichang), some super catchy power pop (Deep River), vocal distortions and synthesizers (Comrade Elvis), and even an instrumental surfer rock ditty (Feet First). Happymatic is good and it will make you want to dance. I hope it gets the attention it deserves on April 1st when it is released. No joke.

 

 Hilotrons - Dominika (Happymatic, 2008): Play Now