Latest Reviews
Mngwa
The Strange OneA sprawling worldbeat collective from Vancouver, MNGWA are a common sight in Western Canadian summer festivals. Featuring eight core members from Latin, reggae, jazz and rock backgrounds, the band often brings in guest musicians to...
read more...By Steve Marlow
Dec 4, 2019
Andrew Franey
TranshumanA survivor of the late 90s punk boom, Andrew Franey was a member of Hamilton-based Smoother, who got signed to a major label deal in the early 2000s. After commercial success made him become disillusioned...
read more...By Steve Marlow
Nov 30, 2019
The Shangs
Golden Hits of the ShangsFor a band with such a short and obscure career, Hamilton's art-punk/garage band Simply Saucer continue to impact Canadian music. With a start in the 70s, a renewed interest in the 90s, a tour and...
read more...By Steve Marlow
Nov 25, 2019
Alex Cuba
SublimeAlex Cuba, originally from Cuba, has become a mainstay in Canadian Latin and worldbeat music. He lives in a decidedly cold place now, northern B.C., but his music remains unapologetically Cuban. His previous efforts saw...
read more...By Steve Marlow
Nov 19, 2019
Tri Nguyen
The Art of the Vietnamese ZitherThis CD is a compelling mix of traditional Vietnamese and western and other classical styles, and it's a new favourite of mine.
Ho Chi Min City-born Nguyen Huu Tri (stage name: Tri Nguyen) is a classically-trained...
read more...By Catherine Fisher
Jul 3, 2019
Defend The Rhino
GlistenDefend the Rhino is a one-person drone and electronic band from Edmonton. Nathanial Sutton has been recording for about ten years and has three full albums to his credit, Glisten being the third. His music...
read more...By Steve Marlow
Jun 22, 2019
Talltale
A Japanese Fever DreamTalltale is Tatiana Zagorac, an electronic and pop artist from Edmonton. A Japanese Fever Dream is her first EP, and is a reflection on fascination with Japanese culture. The album is based on three trips...
read more...By Steve Marlow
Jun 15, 2019
Kiwi Jr.
Football MoneyVancouver's Mint Records has the uncanny ability to find great obscure Canadian bands. More often that not, each Mint release has a manic energy to it, an energy of youth, innovation and nervous tension. Toronto's...
read more...By Steve Marlow
Jun 10, 2019
Plaster
TransitionPlaster is the alter-ego of Italian experimental electronic musician Gianclaudio Hashem Moniri. Formerly a duo, this is the second album Plaster has released as a solo artist. The music here is underscored by a constant,...
read more...By Steve Marlow
Sep 4, 2018
Hyness
The End of MusicAn indy rock band from southern Ontario, Hyness are rooted in the jangly, fuzzed-out alternative rock of the mid 90s. They form their sound out of the vocals of Marcus and Amy Addams, a married...
read more...By Steve Marlow
Aug 28, 2018
Black Suit Devil
The Freedom SessionsBlack Suit Devil is the alter-ego of Toronto based songwriter Andy Du Rego. The band is mostly Du Rego, with a wide variety of guest stars. The Freedom Sessions is a classic-rock album in the...
read more...By Steve Marlow
Aug 23, 2018
Yamantaka // Sonic Titan
DirtWith their large sonic influence on Canadian music, it's hard to believe that Yamantaka//Sonic Titan's latest album, Dirt, is only their third album to date. Formed in 2007 as a combination music/art collective out of...
read more...By Steve Marlow
Mar 27, 2018
The Pack A.D.
DollhouseVancouver's The Pack A.D. Have become one of Western Canada's most loved rock acts. With more than 10 years of almost constant touring and recording behind them, they've just released their latest album Dollhouse, their...
read more...By Steve Marlow
Jan 1, 2018
Chad VanGaalen
Light InformationCalgary's Chad VanGaalen is Canadian indy rock royalty. He's also earned it, having started his career in 2004, riding around Calgary on his bike and sharing his handmade albums with his audience. Now, 13 years...
read more...By Steve Marlow
Sep 26, 2017
Potengowski Anna Friederike
The Edge of Time: Paleolithic bone flutes from France and GermanyFlautist Anna Friederike Potengowski wanted to go back to the very beginning of known human musical language. In 2010, she began studying what is known about paleolithic bone flutes and to speculate what techniques people...
read more...By Catherine Fisher
Sep 10, 2017
Todd Rundgren
White KnightWhen a legendary musician and producer puts out an album in today's music scene, it's either destined to be legendary or a return to form, or an embarrassment. Todd Rundgren's latest, White Knight, sadly, falls...
read more...By Steve Marlow
Jul 20, 2017
Old 97's
Graveyard WhistlingVenerable Americana/alt-country band Old 97's are now on their 11th album, and over 20 years together as a band. Along with bands like Whiskeytown and Uncle Tupelo, they essentially invented the alt-country genre. Songwriter and...
read more...By Steve Marlow
Jun 28, 2017
Needles//Pins
Goodnight, TomorrowVancouver's Needles//Pins are part of the fine tradition of punk rock from the West Coast. They are made up of three friends who wanted to hang out more together and formed a band. They've had...
read more...By Steve Marlow
Jun 17, 2017
Ohama
Grrlz Monosynth TowerCalgary’s Tona Ohama is a true survivor of the Canadian music industry. He’s been recording in relative obscurity since 1979, sticking almost exclusively to electronic music. To call him just a synth-pop artist would be...
read more...By Steve Marlow
May 1, 2017
Nicolas Horvath
Glassworlds 5Four years ago, Monaco-born pianist Nicolas Horvath began to record Glassworks, his project to make all of U.S. composer Philip Glass’ solo piano works available. This is the fifth and final volume in the Glassworks project,...
read more...By Catherine Fisher
May 1, 2017