Exclaim! hosts an exclusive stream of the new album from Del Bel: Having spent a few years ‘brewing up a quiet storm’ with their 2011 debutOneiric, the band took a break while singer Lisa Conway finished up a degree. She’s back now and settling in just fine, delivering her haunting lyrics and vocals over equally eerie composition and orchestration from Tyler Belluz. Embracing their darker side, the band have described their sound as ‘creepy.’ It’s an especially apt description on tracks like ‘The Rains’ and Bruce Peninsula collaboration ‘Old Magic,’ which conjures images of spiders, worms and ancient spirits. ”
Listen to the album HERE.
Gray Owl Point on Del Bel‘s sophomore album: “Del Bel (the album) is full of melodies of foreboding. It always feels like something is just around the corner, from the creaking of guitars to the mournful wail of horns. ‘Firebox’ is a good example of how the band increases the pressure, and Conway’s lyrics make it apparent, with a driving bass rhythm and opening lyrics that seem self-evident, but are expertly effective: ‘In the boiler/Heat is building.’ And heat does build.”
Read the whole review HERE.
Dusty Organ on Del Bel: “Toronto-based pop-noir super-group Del Bel have been continuing their success since their debut release Oneiric with their elaborate, cinematic style on their self-titled, sophomore release. Setting up the musical theme for the album, ‘In My Solitude’ features the enchanting jazz vocals of Lisa Conway, which are then matched with the smooth yet unsettling lines of instrumentation from Belluz and guitarist Michael Brooks. Conway continues to steal the show with the dark and melodic track ‘The Rains.’ Del Bel quickly become masters of suspense with their ability to draw together the different instruments with controlled impulsivity.”
Read the whole review HERE.
Ride The Tempo on Del Bel: “There is talk that Twin Peaks may be revived, in which case David Lynch may want to check this beauty out for the backing music. Indeed this entire album plays out as if you are in smoky cabaret in your dreams. It’s the bittersweet memory of a vague nightmare. If there was ever a vital pairing it would be the subtle arrangement/orchestration of Tyler Belluz and the sultry, jazz-informed vocals of Lisa Conway. Nothing but Conway’s lyrics and sensitive vocals could ever make sense of Belluz’s darkly imaginative musings on the mysterious. Although the singing may bear some comparison to Goldfrapp, the only thing that comes even close in comparison to the entire package is Portishead, but without the trip-hop glitchiness.”
Read the whole review HERE.
Indie Shuffle on Del Bel‘s track “The Stallion” : “When Del Bel released “In My Solitude” a little over a month ago, they gave us something different. Somehow, the usual choice of adjectives — eerie, spooky, haunting — didn’t really seem to apply. Moody? Yes, given the theme of isolation and seclusion. And while the song certainly shares the same sparse ambiance with previous compositions, it had a noir-ish allure that felt more sensual than unsettling.”
Read the whole review HERE.
CBC Music previews The Golden Dogs‘ 3 1/2: “Why you should listen: Because the Toronto power-pop group almost called it quits after losing its longtime drummer, but instead decided to recharge and put out an album of pulsing, catchy and infectiously fun grooves.”
See the whole February Music Preview HERE.
Snob’s Music on The Golden Dogs‘ 3 1/2: “They kick things off in style with ‘Decided.’ The songs seamlessly integrates soul/funk with expansive guitar riffs. That vibe doesn’t last long. The group strikes up slick, Cars-inspired New Wave pop for ‘Pretending.’ With ‘Parade’ they manage to make a hook-filled track that sounds like it should come from a group with twice as many members in it.”
Read the whole review HERE.
Michael Doherty on The Golden Dogs‘ 3 1/2: “The group kicks off their new CD with ‘Decided,’ which has a very cool groove and certain elements of 1970s dance music. I’m particularly fond of the bass line in this song. And the vocals are impressive. ‘The look upon my face/I can’t disguise it/The look upon my face/I can’t deny it.’ The song takes some progressive turns toward the end, with some wild work on guitar. They follow that with ‘Do It For You,’ a seriously fun bit of pop joy with delicious vocals and lots of energy.”
Read the whole review HERE.
NOW Toronto on the Beams 7″ release show at The Horseshoe Tavern: “Beams’ use of banjo, lap steel and singing saw helps them stand out from the indie folk pack, and co-frontwomen Anna Mernieks and Heather Mazhar’s intertwined vocals gel so exceptionally well that they often sound as if they’re coming from one source rather than two. The mix of bluegrass instrumentation, noir folk stories, robust songwriting and indie pop was worth braving the snow for.”
Read the whole review HERE.
Aesthetic Magazine stopped by the Beams 7″ release show to snap some photos. Check them out HERE.
!earshot 20 interviews Anna Mernieks from Beams about their new 7″, The Gutters and The Glass. Give it a listen here:
New Canadian Music on Mardeen‘s Silver Fang: “Acclaimed East Coast indie rock faves Mardeen were last heard from with fine 2012 album Miss You Forever, though their profile was recently boosted by Mo Kenney’s brilliant cover of their song ‘Telephones’ (just nominated for Song of the Year at the ECMAs!). They recorded new three song EP Silver Fang at Halifax studio Echo Chamber with Charles Austin (The Super Friendz), with mixing by Laurence Currie (Sloan, Wintersleep), and the sonic quality is high. All three cuts are winners, and the title cut sports a ridiculously catchy chorus.”
Read the whole review HERE.
BRBR on Mardeen‘s Silver Fang: “Les trois titres issus de ces séances d’écritures témoignent de ces expériences, comme sur Silver Fang, la pièce titre, sorte de Monster Mash romantique aux hameçons pop…Au-delà du décor à donner la chair de poule, Mardeen s’est donné comme mission de peaufiner sa technique pop. C’est mission accomplie, car en moins de dix minutes, le quatuor oscille entre audace et efficacité, sans dénaturer son amour de la power pop.”
Read the whole feature, en français, HERE.
Zachary Houle on Mardeen‘s Silver Fang: “…things kick off with ‘Silver Fang.’ It basically marries surf rock with folk rock, and the harmonies are delightful. A little silly, but silliness can sometimes be fun – and this song truly is. ‘DC Fan’ follows and is more of an organ ditty that turns into a rollicking acoustic guitar strum. However, Mardeen saves the very best for the end: the more than four minute ‘Backroads.’ It’s the most straight-ahead song on the record, and is a rocker. Actually, it isn’t too far removed from classic Guided by Voices with its propulsive bass line.”
Read the whole review HERE.
Direct Current Music on Gabrielle Papillon‘s The Tempest of Old: “New project The Tempest of Old, arriving up north March 24, reveals a thornier, more emotionally complex and sonically richer side of the Hallifax-based performer than we’ve heard before. Working with producer Daniel Ledwell (Jenn Grant), Papillon confidently puts her new music on a grander, darker stage. Lead single ‘Got You Well’ has an insistent, if subdued, clench of tension in its belly as the beat stomps along beneath a buzz of fiddles, guitars and Papillon’s slightly distorted vocals.”
Read the whole piece HERE.
Exclaim! shares details of Gabrielle Papillon‘s The Tempest of Old: “Those who are familiar with Gabrielle Papillon’s gentle previous works are in for a bit of a surprise, as the songwriter has apparently expanded her sonic palette for her latest album. While the songwriting is said to be a continuation of the hooks and lyricism she’s known for, a press release calls the production ‘big, orchestral, and defiant.’ It apparently evokes the Last of the Mohicans soundtrack with its ‘sepia-soaked, cinematic drive.'”
Read the whole piece HERE.
CBC Music previews Michael Feuerstack‘s The Forgettable Truth: “Why you should listen: Because after releasing an entire album of other artists singing his words (Singer Songer), the revered songwriter is back behind the mic to breathe life into his lyrics, which can be simultaneously heartfelt and apathetic, sacred and profane.”
See the whole February Music Preview HERE.
Andy McLean, executive director the East Coast Music Association, stopped by Global Morning Halifax to talk about East Coast Music Week 2015. Check it out below:
Camrose Canadian features Fearing & White: “After a decade writing songs together, Canada’s Stephen Fearing (Blackie and the Rodeo Kings) and Ireland’s Andy White decided to join forces, record and set out on tour together. ‘It’s just one of those things where you put songwriters together, and if there’s a chemistry, clichéd as is, then you want to keep doing it, and eventually you’ll look at the body of work and think, we should make a record,’ said Fearing. Clearing the hurdle of living in Canada and Australia respectively, Fearing & White put out a self titled album in 2011 and a second, Tea and Confidences, in 2014.”
Read the whole piece HERE.
Finally, here is a re-cap of some of our clients that have hit the !earshot charts this week:
Top 30 Weekly National Charts:
#39 – The Golden Dogs – 3 1/2
