Recording: See Through Four

Artist: See Through Four

Song: Piecing Together That Dream

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), April 13, 2014.

See Through Four - Piecing Together That Dream

Full review to follow. Bassist Pete Johnston (formerly of Muskox, also of Aurochs, and liable to manifest in any number of ad hoc improvisatory groups) has been employing his See Through Trio as a vehicle for his compositions for a while, and now this quartet is working on a parallel path. Pianist Tania Gill is common to both configurations, but the Four also includes Heather and Mark Segger on trombone and drums. The pieces tend to state a theme, pass around a couple solos, then bring everyone in on the action, like a family arguing politics with gusto over Thanksgiving dinner. Satisfying results all around, including in this brand-new selection receiving its debut.

Recording: Mimico

Artist: Mimico

Song: Fate Screen^*

Recorded at Comfort Zone ("Cod Bless Fest"), April 10, 2014.

Mimico - Fate Screen

Full review to follow. If I were the type to be overly concerned with what bands are gonna "break", I'd be whispering Mimico's name in a lot of ears. But seriously — their forthcoming album Incantations is gonna be frickin' big, so you should get on this train now. A menacing groove for our times.

^* Thanks to Chris for passing the title to this one along.

Recording: Sexy Merlin

Artist: Sexy Merlin

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at Comfort Zone ("Cod Bless Fest"), April 10, 2014.

Sexy Merlin - unknown

Full review to follow. A nice night out set up by Reel Cod Records didn't just focus on bands that had released stuff on the label. Inviting Sean Dunel's Sexy Merlin project was an inspired move, as you could see the other musicians in the room totally vibing to what he was doing.

^* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!

Concert Listings Roundup #42

You can read more about why I'm doing listings here. Long story short: This curated and decidedly non-comprehensive list contains nothin' but shows that I am going to/would go to if I had more time.

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Gig of the week:

Feast In The East Anniversary (feat. Petra Glynt / Mmm Mmm [Sexy Merlin & Man Made Hill] / Wolfcow / New Fries) / Jam Factory 2014-05-02 (Friday) [FB event]

Plenty to celebrate here at this Feast! Besides a stellar-as-usual lineup and the promise of a tasty meal, the series is celebrating its new home at the Jam Factory — a spot that's easy to get to (yet off the beaten path) and super cozy without being cramped. You'll most likely love it on entry, so if you've always meant to go to a Feast in the East but have been putting it off, this would be an excellent time to get on board.

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This week's noteworthy shows:

The Good Family [April residency! Early show every Monday in April!] / The Dakota Tavern 2014-04-28 (Monday) [more info]

Nick Fraser / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2014-04-29 (Thursday)

Alex Bleeker and the Freaks (The Auras / Tess Parks and the Good People) / The Silver Dollar Room 2014-04-29 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Kyle Brenders' Large Ensemble (Wayward Voices Nonet) / Array Space 2014-04-30 (Wednesday)

Wavelength 597 (feat. Chicago Underground Duo / Not The Wind, Not The Flag / King Weather) / The Garrison 2014-05-01 (Thursday) [FB event]

Y Club ("rare live duo performance") / Bambi's 2014-05-01 (Thursday) [FB event]

Adam Scime: DMA Composition Recital / Array Space 2014-05-02 (Friday) [FB event]

An Evening For Bazou 5 (feat. Afrafranto / DRUMHAND / Njacko Backo) / Gladstone Hotel Ballroom 2014-05-03 (Saturday) [FB event]

CCLA 50th Anniversary Concert Celebration (feat. Jason Collett / Arraymusic Ensemble [playing an original piece by Owen Pallett] / Kobo Town / Axé Capoeira Toronto / Clay and Paper Theatre / Lido Pimienta / Damian Rogers / "TBA" University of Toronto A Cappella Choir) / Trinity St-Paul's Centre 2014-05-03 (Saturday) [FB event]

Allison Cameron and friends / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2014-05-04 (Sunday – matinée! 1 to 3 p.m.)

Continuum: By Other Means / The Music Gallery 2014-05-04 (Sunday) [more info]

Somewhere There presents "There is No Magic" (feat. Birth of Troubling Forms / Alexandra Spence, Bea Labikova and No Magic / Odradek) / Array Space 2014-05-04 (Sunday) [FB event]

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Add these to your calendar:

DIANA presents DIG DEEP (feat. Matt "Doc" Dunn / ASMR buds [Colin Fisher/Felicity Williams/Robin Dann] / DIANA ["most opiated performance ever"] / Jennifer Castle) / The Drake Underground 2014-05-08 (Thursday) [FB event]

Dog Gone Presents: "Love Saves The Day" (feat. Minotaurs Oath / Devonian Gardens / Genital Hospital) / Smiling Buddha 2014-05-08 (Thursday) [FB event]

Operators (Strands [feat. Jasmyn Burke of Weaves] / Praises [feat. Jessie of Beliefs] / Omhouse / Red Mass) / The Silver Dollar Room 2014-05-08 (Thursday) [FB event]

Silent Shout (feat. Operators / We Are Wolves / Petra Glynt / Nyssa / Pat Jordache / Sexy Merlin / New Zebra Kid/ Zoo Owl) / The Silver Dollar Room 2014-05-09 (Friday) [FB event]

DIANA presents GET HIGH (feat. Ice Cream / House of Monroe / DIANA ["pure dance set"]) / The Drake Underground 2014-05-09 (Friday) [FB event]

National Drone Day – Toronto (feat. Hoover Party / Panic Engines / Colin Fisher / Moonwood / Hobo Cubes / Man Made Hill / Mylar / Brian Schirk) / The Tranzac (Tiki Room) 2014-05-10 (Saturday) [FB event]

Winchester Warm (Giant Hand) / Holy Oak Café 2014-05-10 (Saturday) [FB event]

Universe: A Live Soundtrack Experiment (feat. Absolutely Free / Fresh Snow / Marcel Ramagnano) / Revue Cinema 2014-05-15 (Thursday) [FB event]

Christian Hansen [EP Release!] (Depression Era / Doug Hoyer / The Fairest & Best) / The Silver Dollar Room 2014-05-15 (Thursday) [FB event]

Marisa Anderson (Matt "Doc" Dunn) / Holy Oak Café 2014-05-18 (Sunday) [FB event]

Recording: The GGS New Music Ensemble

Artist: The GGS New Music Ensemble

Songs: Behind the Sound of Music [edited fragments] (composer: Nicole Lizée) + 3 Movements for Chamber Orchestra [2nd movement] (composer: Scott Good)

Recorded at the Conservatory Theatre, April 10, 2014.

The GGS New Music Ensemble - Behind the Sound of Music [edited fragments]

The GGS New Music Ensemble - 3 Movements for Chamber Orchestra [2nd mvt]

As I've said before, Brian Current is leading the New Music Ensemble at the Royal Conservatory's Glenn Gould School down some very interesting roads. The chance to present the World Premiere of this new Nicole Lizée piece was used as a springboard to present a couple other pieces that were based in sound and vision, including Martin Matalon's Les siete vidas se un gato (a new score to Buñuel's Un Chien Andalou) and Louis Andriessen's The New Math(s) (a soundtrack to an arthouse kung-fu slapstick flick). But it was Lizée's work that captivated the most.

Following on her Hitchcock Etudes, Behind the Sound of Music applies glitchy cut-and-paste techniques to the beloved musical to create a slightly hallucinatory trip. Known for playing off pop culture tropes, this piece could be a true crossover hit — someone just needs to get it in front of the cult film/midnite movie/420 crowd.

With the composer on hand to conduct, the night also saw a performance of Scott Good's piece, which had been commissioned by the Glenn Gould School. Starting from a strictly defined set of musical tools, the piece aims to employ those ingredients in different ways — ranging here from lithe and melodic to dirge-y drones. A work in progress, there are more movements yet to be added.

Recording: Picastro

Artist: Picastro

Songs: State Man + February

Recorded at CineCycle ("Wavelength 593"), April 9, 2014.

Picastro - State Man

Picastro - February

Full review to follow. Picastro's Liz Hysen has pushed herself out of the spotlight a bit on the band's new album. On several of the songs, her voice is joined by — or replaced by — a series of male vocalists, including Tony Dekker and Alex Lukashevsky. Nick Storring, the group's longtime cello player, also contributes vocal here on "February". Meanwhile, on this night, the ever-evolving lineup was a five piece, with Evan Clarke and Matt Ramolo (who were in the fold last time I saw the band) joined by newcomer Germaine Liu on percussion. A few macabre cartoons from CineCycle's collection completed the vibe for this show.

Recording: Magali Meagher

Artist: Magali Meagher

Song: Vanishing Point

Recorded at CineCycle ("Wavelength 593"), April 9, 2014.

Magali Meagher - Vanishing Point

Full review to follow. Returning to the stage after a parental leave, Magali Meagher is no longer a Phoneme, but shedding her old bandonym hasn't changed her intimate, introspective and welcoming musical approach. No word yet on her her new album will appear, but hopefully this will at least lead to some some further performances.

Download: "Selections, Vol. 1 "

Given that I started without much of a long-term plan, it's not a huge surprise to note that I've now been recording shows for five years. But to look back at the collection that I've amassed — and tried, as much as I can, to share — evokes a sort of pleasant shock. What good fortune we have to be in the midst of so much richness!

To help mark the anniversary, my friends at Reel Cod and Pleasence Records helped to create a tangible artifact, collecting some of my fave moments from the past few years. You can grip this (to use the idiom of our times) in cassette form if you act quickly — but if tapes ain't your bag (or if you prefer immediacy to physicality) you can also dig it/stream it/download it over at Bandcamp. (Which makes it available in FLAC, which is important for a few of us.)

Grab it here:

Mechanical Forest Sound — Selections, Vol. 1

Sincere thanks to all the artists involved — go to their shows, buy their albums! And thanks to Chris and James, who not only facilitated making this into a tangible thing, but actually sat me down when I agreed that it was cool idea and actually made it happen.

Download: Tropics 2009-04-24 [MFS #001]

On April 24, 2009, I took my newly-acquired microphones out "in the field" for the first time ever. Butterflies in my stomach, feeling awkward and conspicuous, I stood against a wall and tried to look casual as I hooked up my gear. By sheer chance, the first band that I would record would be Tropics, who were the openers at a Hive Dwellers/Chain and the Gang gig at the old Whippersnapper Gallery on College.

I'd come to enjoy the band more than the somewhat middling praise I offered at the time — and Tropics would be an example of the sort of band that I'm glad to have documented, as they were very much a "live" band whose recorded legacy would under-represent how much material they had.

Tropics - [last song]

This is not my best Tropics recording — it's very literally the sound of a guy figuring out how to use his gear. But I do know a bit more about processing audio now and after a few tweaks, it ain't half bad. And... it's the first. Now, on the fifth anniversary of this whole thing getting started, you can hear it for the first time ever. Grab it here:

Tropics - 2009-04-24 [MFS #001]

Tropics are no more, but their DNA is encoded in the new project Darlene Shrugg. Slim Twig is still Slim Twig. Simone TB can be seen performing with The Highest Order.

Thanks to Max T. for understanding the historical imperative here. At some point I'll have to figure out what my best Tropics recording is and post that.

Recording: Planet Creature

Artist: Planet Creature

Song: Fuzzy Hair

Recorded at The Garrison's Front Room ("Swap, Don't Shop" fundraiser for Girls Rock Camp), April 6, 2014.

Planet Creature - Fuzzy Hair

Full review to follow. As always, the volunteers at Girls Rock Camp Toronto know how to throw a fundraiser — The Garrison was humming with a clothing swap in the back and cool bands in the front room. This one seemed busier than ever, and a real all-ages show with babies, kids, teens and adults hanging out together.

It's been a while since I've seen Planet Creature in action, but the time they've spent recharging has paid off in a set that was composed almost entirely of new material.

Recording: Patti Cake

Artist: Patti Cake

Song: Lindsay

Recorded at The Garrison's Front Room ("Swap, Don't Shop" fundraiser for Girls Rock Camp), April 6, 2014.

Patti Cake - Lindsay

Full review to follow. As always, the volunteers at Girls Rock Camp Toronto know how to throw a fundraiser — The Garrison was humming with a clothing swap in the back and cool bands in the front room. This one seemed busier than ever, and a real all-ages show with babies, kids, teens and adults hanging out together.

I reckon that everyone who sees Kritty Uranowski perform wants to be like her when they grow up, so I'm sure she made an impression on the former rock campers and assorted small fry in the crowd, many of whom she greeted by name. This is what it feels like to have rockstars integrated into your community.

^* Thanks to the band for passing along the title to this one!

Recording: Twist

Artist: Twist

Song: Can't Wait

Recorded at The Garrison's Front Room ("Swap, Don't Shop" fundraiser for Girls Rock Camp), April 6, 2014.

Twist - Can't Wait

Full review to follow. As always, the volunteers at Girls Rock Camp Toronto know how to throw a fundraiser — The Garrison was humming with a clothing swap in the back and cool bands in the front room. This one seemed busier than ever, and a real all-ages show with babies, kids, teens and adults hanging out together.

Laura Hermiston (also of The BB Guns) has been giving some glimpses of her bedroom pop confections for a little while now, but I hadn't had a chance to see how they come across live. It's a stripped-down presentation, but rather perfect for Sunday afternoon groovin' — and there's some ace tunes here. (The vocals for this one — total hit single, by the way — are a bit buried at the start, but they come around as the song goes on.)

Recording: Babysitter

Artist: Babysitter

Song: Cheerleaders^*

Recorded at The Jam Factory ("Feast In The East 36"), April 5, 2014.

Babysitter - Cheerleaders

Full review to follow. Exciting times for Feast in the East with the series' new digs winning excited praise from everyone I spoke to. Hanging over the DVP, The Jam Factory feels like a real hidden gem — off the beaten track but easy to get to, and more spacious than the Feast's last stop without feeling imposingly cavernous. Do not miss the next instalment, an anniversary special on Friday, May 2, with Petra Glynt, Mmm Mmm [Man Made Hill & Sexy Merlin] and New Fries.

Victoria freak punks Babysitter were the night's out-of-town guests, playing a fairly corrosive set of feeling-bad-feels-good scorchers.

^* Thanks to the band for passing along the title to this one.

Recording: Gay

Artist: Gay

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at The Jam Factory ("Feast In The East 36"), April 5, 2014.

Gay - unknown

Full review to follow. Exciting times for Feast in the East with the series' new digs winning excited praise from everyone I spoke to. Hanging over the DVP, The Jam Factory feels like a real hidden gem — off the beaten track but easy to get to, and more spacious than the Feast's last stop without feeling imposingly cavernous. Do not miss the next instalment, an anniversary special on Friday, May 2, with Petra Glynt, Mmm Mmm [Man Made Hill & Sexy Merlin] and New Fries.

Meanwhile, exciting times for local new wavers Gay as well, as they prepare to head over to the UK for a short tour.

^* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!

Concert Listings Roundup #41

You can read more about why I'm doing listings here. Long story short: This curated and decidedly non-comprehensive list contains nothin' but shows that I am going to/would go to if I had more time.

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Gig of the week:

Silent Shout + Mechanical Forest Sound (feat. Lee Paradise [Dan Lee from Hooded Fang/Phèdre! Water Palace Kingdom release party!] / Lido Pimienta with Mas Aya / Jay Holy / B-17) / The Silver Dollar Room 2014-04-25 (Saturday) [FB event]

Total conflict of interest with this recommendation, as I indeed had a hand in putting this show together. But while some folks might want to come out to celebrate both my birthday and my fifth anniversary of recording shows, it stands on its own as a kickass show.

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This week's noteworthy shows:

The Good Family [April residency! Early show every Monday in April!] / The Dakota Tavern 2014-04-21 (Monday) [more info]

Christina Petrowska Quilico: Glass Houses Vol. 2 CD Launch / Canadian Music Centre 2014-04-22 (Tuesday – early! free with RSVP!) [more info]

"A Night of Old Songs" ["Martha Farquhar-McDonnell, Isla Craig, Sean Donald and Tyler Hnatuk sing and play traditional music from Ireland and Scotland"] / The Common 2014-04-23 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Holly Golightly (Dany Laj and the Looks / Freeman Dre & The Soup Kitchen) / The Horseshoe Tavern 2014-04-23 (Wednesday) [FB event]

catl [This Shakin' House LP Release Party!] (Bloodshot Bill / Mad Ones) / The Horseshoe Tavern 2014-04-24 (Thursday) [FB event]

Wavelength 596: NICE [co-presented with Dalton Higgins] (feat. Complaints Dept / Most People / pHoenix Pagliacci / Ought) / Tattoo 2014-04-24 (Thursday) [FB event]

Phèdre (VCR / Tremayne / Creep Highway) / Double Double Land 2014-04-24 (Thursday) [FB event]

S.M. (Stüka / New Positions / Smother) / Smiling Buddha 2014-04-24 (Thursday) [FB event]

Zones (Mystic Triangle / Beard Closet) / Holy Oak Café 2014-04-25 (Friday) [FB event]

The Ryan Driver Quartet / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2014-04-25 (Friday)

Lightmares [album release!]) (Walk North / Dead Broke / Finderskeepers / Ancient Peoples) / The Magpie Taproom 2014-04-25 (Friday) [FB event]

Sandro Perri / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2014-04-26 (Saturday)

Weaves [EP Release show! (Bizzarh / HSY / New Fries) / CineCycle 2014-04-26 (Saturday) [FB event]

Clarinet Panic Deluxx [EP Release!] (Keir Neuringer / CCMC) / Oz Studios 2014-04-27 (Sunday) [FB event]

Crosswires (feat. Clara Engel [tape release of Ashes & Tangerines] / Totenbaum Träger / BABEL) / Handlebar 2014-04-27 (Sunday) [FB event]

Somewhere There Presents (feat. Lottery Tickets / Sorbara/Liu/Tielli/Segger) / Array Space 2014-04-27 (Sunday)

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Add these to your calendar:

Lina Allemano/Rob Clutton/D. Alex Meeks / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2014-04-29 (Tuesday)

Wavelength 598: "M for..." (feat. Mozart's Sister / Mas Aya / Maicamia / Mannerisms / Moonwood) / The Garrison 2014-05-07 (Wednesday) [more info]

Aurochs (Ali Berkok [solo]) / 90 Wellesley 2014-05-10 (Saturday) [FB event]

Kith & Kin's Spring Show / Church of St. Andrew by-the-Lake, Toronto Island 2014-05-11 (Sunday) [FB event]

The Final Crosswires (feat. Jim Storie Juniors / Bloody Narcissists / Underwater Landslides) / Handlebar 2014-05-11 (Sunday) [FB event]

CROSSS (Each Other / Gay) / The Smiling Buddha 2014-05-14 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Wavelength 599: "A Madcap Night of Royal Debauchery" (feat. Dilly Dally / The Sandy Pockets / Meeko Cheech / Gold Pony / The Julee Cruise Ships) / Handlebar 2014-05-17 (Saturday) [FB event]

Moon King (U.S. Girls / Petra Glynt) / The Silver Dollar Room 2014-06-07 (Saturday) [FB event]

The Hidden Cameras / Luminato Festival Hub at David Pecaut Square 2014-06-08 (Sunday – free! matinée!) [more info]

Recording: Continuum, Array and Guests

Artist: Continuum's Ensemble with The Array Ensemble and Guests

Song: Babbitt [excerpt] (Composer: Michael Oesterle)

Recorded at The Music Gallery ("Gaudeamus: Reconstructed"), April 4, 2014.

Continuum, Array and Guests - Babbitt [excerpt]

Full review to follow. The second night of the mini-festival in celebration of The Netherlands' Gaudeamus Muziekweek contrasted the previous night's improvisations by presenting works by a few composers — Dutch and Canadian — who have been associated with Gaudeamus in the past. To realize this vision, Continuum's ensemble was joined by The Array Ensemble as well as guests Michiel van Dijk, Koen Kaptijn, Nora Mulder, Rob MacDonald and Bas Wiegers. This piece from Michael Oesterle, as well as those from Louis Andriessen, Yannis Kyriakides and eldritch priest brought out a satisfying variety of textures.

Recording: Gaudeamus Deconstructed Ensemble

Artist: Gaudeamus Deconstructed Ensemble

Song: All The Pieces That Ever Won Prizes at Gaudeamus in the Past 25 Years (Part I)

Recorded at The Music Gallery, April 3, 2014.

Gaudeamus Deconstructed Ensemble - All The Pieces That Ever Won Prizes at Gaudeamus in the Past 25 Years (Part I)

Full review to follow. Celebrating The Netherlands' famed Gaudeamus Muziekweek, several local new music groups worked together to curate this mini-festival, which brought two nights of concerts plus some spin-off daytime activities to the Music Gallery. The first night was a Dutch/Canadian improvisation summit, featuring visitors Michiel van Dijk, Koen Kaptijn and Nora Mulder alongside locals Nicole Rampersaud, Josh Cole, Rick Sacks and Allison Cameron. This structured "comprovisation" was contributed (and cheekily titled) by Cameron.

Recording: The Living Daylight Stringband

Artist: The Living Daylight Stringband

Songs: I Fall On My Knees [Old Crow Medicine Show cover] + Johnson Gals

Recorded at Holy Oak Café, March 30, 2014.

The Living Daylight Stringband - I Fall On My Knees

The Living Daylight Stringband - Johnson Gals

Full review to follow. Try as I might, there's lots of music in this city that I just don't see that much of. I know there's a rich community of roots/old-timey music, and though I dig it it's just not something I get out to see very much. Good luck then to have this quartet on the bill alongside Simone Schmidt's new Flood & Pass project, giving me a chance to experience that simple magic of four voices gathered around a single microphone. It sounds timeless, but the band is working up a healthy songbook of their own material — and you can find them at the Holy Oak on the second Thursday of every month.

Recording: Flood & Pass

Artist: Flood & Pass

Songs: Turing's Farewell + You Were Good (I Was Good For a While)

Recorded at Holy Oak Café, March 30, 2014.

Flood & Pass - Turing's Farewell

Flood & Pass - You Were Good (I Was Good For a While)

Full review to follow. Although Simone Schmidt's idiom is somewhere in the vast terrain that includes "country" and "singer-songwriter", her m.o. and approach to collaboration is akin to improvisers and experimentalists, nimbly shifting from project to project to reflect the different dynamics that come with different musical partners. So here, then, we have one to add to the pile, with Schmidt trying out some new material alongside Phillips, whose solo project is called Stripmall Ballads. There's some obvious affinities here, including a lyrical worldview that gets inside the stories of the disenfranchised — Phillips presented one song called "Woman With A Black Eye". In town to record an album together, the pair also shared the stage at the Holy Oak, tossing back and forth the new collaborative songs as well as a few of their own tunes. Schmidt brought this requiem for Alan Turing, whose code-breaking heroics were swept aside in the condemnation of his queerness, while Philips' "You Were Good" was dedicated to Confederacy of Dunces author John Kennedy Toole.

Recording: Toronto Homicide Squad

Artist: Toronto Homicide Squad

Song: Inflammation is the Enemy

Recorded at Bike Pirates (Wavelength 592), March 29, 2014.

Toronto Homicide Squad - Inflammation is the Enemy

Full review to follow. The friendly anarchy of DIY cycle repair space Bike Pirates was an entirely welcome space to host this Wavelength show, and the smell of oil lingering in the air and bike parts hanging from the walls (and tucked away in filing cabinets!) felt like a good match for the varying shades of musical brutalism deployed by the three noise duos on the bill. THS got things started with some harsh prog-bursts that set the tone for the night. [Mark May 20 down in your calendars and join them at Smiling Buddha for their Record Release/Tour Kick-Off show.]

Recording: Surinam

Artist: Surinam

Song: Comeuppance Part 1

Recorded at The Silver Dollar Room, March 28, 2014.

Surinam - Comeuppance Part 1

Full review to follow. Plenty of simmering menace in this tune, which is delivered with the musical equivalent of a slow, pained lurch.

Recording: Dilly Dally

Artist: Dilly Dally

Song: Next Gold

Recorded at The Silver Dollar Room, March 28, 2014.

Dilly Dally - Next Gold

Full review to follow. Even though they're still playing rather short sets, as Dilly Dally gets more comfortable with their sound the songs are slowing down a bit and growing more distinct — but maybe the fact that the band is really on to something can be seen in the way that the Dollar suddenly went from empty-ish to full just before they took the stage.

Recording: EAR-CAM

Artist: EAR-CAM

Song: [excerpt from first set]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), March 28, 2014.

EAR-CAM - [excerpt from first set]

Full review to follow. Regrouping after a ten-year hiatus, I was familiar with the individual members of this group, but not sure of what to expect from them as an ensemble. Composed of Christine Duncan and Nobuo Kubota (voices), John Oswald (alto sax), Tomasz Krakowiak (percussion) and Glen Hall (laptop, electronics, bass clarinet), this is by design a full-on free-form experience, with electronic textures giving a framework for the chatter of voices and saxophone to bubble (or babble?) along.

I don't know how long this ensemble is sticking together for this time around, but I see that they will be performing again on Thursday (April 17th) at Musideum.

Concert Listings Roundup #40

You can read more about why I'm doing listings here. Long story short: This curated and decidedly non-comprehensive list contains nothin' but shows that I am going to/would go to if I had more time.

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Gig of the week:

Too many good shows this week! I had a real problem settling on just one to highlight (and kinda wanted to do three or four) but here's a couple shows that deserve your attention.

Spectrum: Early Expressions / The Annex Theatre 2014-04-17 (Thursday) [more info]

Not only are this night's new compositions musing upon and responding to the works of our artistic ancestors at Chauvet Cave and elsewhere, but there's a pre-concert from an actual archaeologist to push us past our preconceptions on ancient art. The performers include the Ton Beau Quartet, and there's bonus points for Spectrum's unfussy, casual presentation and the haunted-mansion vibes at The Annex Theatre. Tickets only $12 if you buy in advance online! ($15 at the door)

Ken Vandermark's Made to Break Quartet / The Drake Underground 2014-04-19 (Saturday)

I'm not entirely sure what to expect from this new unit from the always-innovating Ken Vandermark, but the promo copy promises that it "combin[es] elements of his interest and experience with the music of Ethiopia and the Ex alongside the New Music ideas of John Cage and Morton Feldman" which sounds very promising.

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This week's noteworthy shows:

The Good Family [April residency! Early show every Monday in April!] / The Dakota Tavern 2014-04-14 (Monday) [more info]

Body Help [Colin Fisher/Josh Cole/Kieran Adams, plus special guest Ryan Driver] / The Emmet Ray 2014-04-14 (Monday) [FB event]

Ken Aldcroft/Chris Banks/Jake Oelrichs / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2014-04-15 (Tuesday – early!)

Julianna Barwick (Vasillus / Christine Duncan / Castle If) / Double Double Land 2014-04-16 (Wednesday) [FB event]

CCMC (Colin Fisher + Mike Gennaro) / Musideum 2014-04-16 (Wednesday) [FB event]

BRIDGES #4 (feat. Lido Pimienta with special guest Tanya Tagaq) / Lula Lounge 2014-04-17 (Thursday) [FB event]

Man Forever [Kid Millions Of Oneida] (Mimico / Not The Wind, Not The Flag) / Double Double Land 2014-04-17 (Thursday) [FB event]

Mind Over Mirrors (Koen Holtkamp [from Mountains] / Manticore) / 360 Geary Ave. 2014-04-17 (Thursday) [FB event]

Dust [The Quietest Big Band in the Known World] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2014-04-18 (Friday – early!) [more info]

The New Mendicants / The Dakota Tavern 2014-04-18 + 2014-04-19 (Friday + Saturday – early shows!) [more info]

Teen Tits Wild Wives [Street Hawks EP Release!] (Sexy Merlin / Rotzig) / Milk Glass Co. 2014-04-18 (Friday) [FB event]

Patti Cake (San Marina / The Meerkats / Labstract) / The Silver Dollar Room 2014-04-18 (Friday) [FB event]

Record Store Day (feat. Unfinished Business / DIANA / Greys / The Bicycles / HSY / PS I Love You) / Sonic Boom 2014-04-19 (Saturday – Sets all afternoon long on the hour! Free + all-ages) [FB event]

Wavelength 595 (feat. Cellphone / Connoisseurs of Porn / Look Vibrant / Mystics) / Smiling Buddha 2014-04-19 (Saturday) [FB event]

Healing Power Residency #3 [Synth'd Out Edition] (feat. Toblerone Boys / PWM) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2013-04-19 (Saturday) [FB event]

Absolutely Free (DOOMSQUAD / Kira May) / 3030 2014-04-19 (Saturday) [FB event]

Construction Vol. 1 ["A summer all-ages music series" from the Long Winter crew] (feat. Tasseomancy / Wish / RLDML) / Double Double Land 2014-04-19 (Saturday) [FB event]

Alaniaris / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2014-04-20 (Sunday – matinée! 3 to 5 p.m.)

Téléphone Maison [Arachnidiscs Cassette Release!] (A Sacred Cloud / Zoo Owl) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2014-04-20 (Sunday) [FB event]

Mount Eerie (Wyrd Visions) [Half–Eaten Guitar Reissue celebration!] / Soybomb 2014-04-20 (Sunday) [FB event]

Sontag Shogun (Blevin Blectum / Khôra) / Gerrard Art Space 2014-04-20 (Sunday) [FB event]

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Add these to your calendar:

"A Night of Old Songs" ["Martha Farquhar-McDonnell, Isla Craig, Sean Donald and Tyler Hnatuk sing and play traditional music from Ireland and Scotland"] / The Common 2014-04-23 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Holly Golightly (Dany Laj and the Looks / Freeman Dre & The Soup Kitchen) / The Horseshoe Tavern 2014-04-23 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Clarinet Panic Deluxx [EP Release!] (Keir Neuringer / CCMC) / Oz Studios 2014-04-27 (Sunday) [FB event]

Somewhere There Presents (feat. Lottery Tickets / Sorbara/Liu/Tielli/Segger) / Array Space 2014-04-27 (Sunday)

Alex Bleeker and the Freaks (The Auras / Tess Parks and the Good People) / The Silver Dollar Room 2014-04-29 (Tuesday) [FB event]

CCLA 50th Anniversary Concert Celebration (feat. Jason Collett / Arraymusic Ensemble [playing an original piece by Owen Pallett] / Kobo Town / Axé Capoeira Toronto / Clay and Paper Theatre / Lido Pimienta / Damian Rogers / "TBA" University of Toronto A Cappella Choir) / Trinity St-Paul's Centre 2014-05-03 (Saturday) [FB event]

Somewhere There presents "There is No Magic" (feat. Birth of Troubling Forms / Alexandra Spence, Bea Labikova and No Magic / Odradek) / Array Space 2014-05-04 (Sunday) [FB event]

Audiopollination #18.1: Focus on Voice (feat. Diane Roblin and Cory Sobol / Tena Palmer and Paul Newman / John Creson and Adam Rosen / Rob Piilonen and Zoë Alexis-Abrams) / Array Space 2014-05-13 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Toronto Homicide Squad (Whoop-Zso / Lice / The Kettle Black) / Smiling Buddha 2014-05-20 (Tuesday) [FB event]

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Bonus on-screen options!

Besides this week's most excellent concert selection, you should be aware that the Images Festival is running all week as well. If you like a bit of an experimental edge to your music, you might very well enjoy it at the movies as well. "Experimental" doesn't mean "dull and incomprehensible", though you might have to bring a bit more active appreciation to these works than your normal narrative fare. But if you pick any of the programmes of shorts, you'll get a chance to see a variety of approaches without (hopefully) testing your patience too much. Just picking something when you have a free night and experiencing it is highly recommended! Screenings run every night at the cozy Jackman Hall at the AGO.

Recording: Josh Cole's Standards Quartet

Artist: Josh Cole's Standards Quartet

Song: Pithecanthropus Erectus [composer: Charles Mingus]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), March 26, 2014.

Josh Cole's Standards Quartet - Pithecanthropus Erectus

Full review to follow. If you weren't watching the band looking over the charts between numbers and tossing hushed inquiries back and forth, you might not have realized that this ad hoc ensemble was tackling some songs from their fakebooks without advance preparation, including the likes of "Lover Man", "Gentle Rain" and "You Don't Know What Love Is" (plus tunes by Ellington, Wayne Shorter and more). This was a chance for Cole — joined by Ryan Driver, Nick Fraser and Nicole Rampersaud — to kick the tires a little before taking these songs for a ride.

Recording: Hurricanes of Love

Artist: Hurricanes of Love

Songs: [story] + Quintorian Blues/Eternal Friend^*

Recorded at June Records, March 24, 2014.

Hurricanes of Love - [story]

Hurricanes of Love - Quintorian Blues/Eternal Friend

Full review to follow. A sort of ramblin' Fahey-esque balladeer for the OxyContin age, Frank Hurricane's "spiritual mountain psych gangsta folk" was delivered with the utmost tension between his free-wheeling monologues and his songs — with open-hearted, delicate fingerpicking giving way to spiritual howls. Together, it made for an altogether striking live presentation.

^* Thanks to Frank for passing along the titles!

Concert Listings Roundup #39

You can read more about why I'm doing listings here. Long story short: This curated and decidedly non-comprehensive list contains nothin' but shows that I am going to/would go to if I had more time.

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Gig of the week:

Wavelength 593 (feat. Picastro Record Release!] / (Magali Meagher [early show] / Paul Schedlich [late show]) / CineCycle 2014-04-09 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Wavelength has a flurry of shows coming up, but this week's is one of the ones I'm most looking forward to, with long-time sleep-rock/drone-pop unit Picastro launching new album You. You have your choice of early or late shows, and the edge here goes to the early show with Magali Meagher, fondly remembered for her work in The Phonemes, making her long-awaited return to live action. [Update! It looks like early + late shows have been merged into one single show, which means that you'll be able to see Meagher and Paul Schedlich without having to pick! Doors at 7:30, show at 8:30!]

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This week's noteworthy shows:

The Good Family [April residency! Early show every Monday in April!] / The Dakota Tavern 2014-04-07 (Monday) [more info]

Aurochs / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2014-04-08 (Tuesday – early!)

Audiopollination #17.1 (feat. Bill Gilliam (piano) performing improvised duets and trios with Cassie Norton / Thistle Strum + Callum Mackenzie / David Shelly / Rod Campbell) / Array Space 2014-04-08 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Carl Wilson & Sean Michaels Tandem Book Launch ["readings plus performances by Snowblink and special guest thereminists and other surprises TBA"] / Monarch Tavern 2014-04-08 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Cosmonauts (B-17 / Mean Tikes) / Sneaky Dee's 2014-04-08 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Ido Govrin [curating a live experimental music concert, featuring Rob Cruickshank/Christine Duncan and The Knot (Tilman Lewis and Nick Storing)] / UTAC University of Toronto Art Centre 2014-04-08 (Tuesday – free!)

HellShovel (Mexican Slang) / The Garrison 2014-04-09 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Lab Coast (Prince Ness / The Holy Gasp) / Smiling Buddha 2014-04-09 (Wednesday) [FB event]

The Glenn Gould School New Music Ensemble: Nicole Lizée's Behind the Sound of Music [world premiere!] / Conservatory Theatre 2014-04-10 (Thursday – free!) [more info]

Reel Cod Records presents Cod Bless Fest (feat. Mimico / Sexy Merlin / Moonwood) / Comfort Zone 2014-04-10 (Thursday) [FB event]

Flowchart [a performance series featuring artists working in different media – music + dance + more] (feat. Jonathan Adjemian / Meryem Alaoui / Barbara Lindenberg) / Artscape Youngplace 2014-04-10 (Thursday) [FB event]

Mike Gennaro/Colin Fisher [duo set, plus second set with Jay Hay & Simeon Abbott] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2014-04-10 (Thursday) [FB event]

Henry Grimes (Aurochs) / The Music Gallery 2014-04-11 (Friday) [more info]

Audiopollination #17.2: Value Village Special ["sets of groups/ensembles using items bought from Value Village"] (feat. Value Village Idiots [Michael Lynn, Michaelangelo Iaffaldano, Arnd Jurgensen, Tim Cuff, Brenda Joy Lem, Dominque Banoun, James Bailey] / Rob Piilonen/Germaine Liu/Mark Zurawinski / Joe Sorbara and group) / Array Space 2014-04-11 (Friday) [FB event]

Steam Whistle Unsigned #29 (feat. Jane's Party / Young Guv / Blonde Elvis) / Steam Whistle Brewing 2014-04-11 (Friday) [FB event]

The Toy Piano Composers: Tension/Resolution [new works for harp + ensemble] / Heliconian Hall 2014-04-12 (Saturday) [FB event]

Noam Bierstone, and Bryan Holt: fulltreffer / The Music Gallery 2014-04-12 (Saturday) [more info]

Persian Rugs (Fires of Cheektowaga / floppsy b & the sugarstarkidd [debut performance!] / Holy Oak Café 2014-04-12 (Saturday) [FB event]

ZONES (Bile Sister / Nick Persons / Doom Tickler / Fleshtone Aura) / Mây 2014-04-12 (Saturday) [FB event]

Prince Enoki's Insect Orchestra (Kosher Dill Spears) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2014-04-12 (Saturday) [FB event]

Bruce Peninsula Trio / Campbell House Museum 2014-04-13 (Sunday) [FB event]

See Through Four (Famous Wildlife Movies) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2014-04-13 (Sunday) [FB event]

A Grayowl Point Crosswires (feat. Christian Hansen / Blimp Rock / Elrichman) / Handlebar 2014-04-13 (Sunday) [FB event]

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Add these to your calendar:

The Good Family [April residency! Early show every Monday in April!] / The Dakota Tavern 2014-04-14 (Monday) [more info]

Body Help [Colin Fisher/Josh Cole/Kieran Adams, plus special guest Ryan Driver] / The Emmet Ray 2014-04-14 (Monday) [FB event]

CCMC (Colin Fisher + Mike Gennaro) / Musideum 2014-04-16 (Wednesday)

BRIDGES #4 (feat. Lido Pimienta with special guest Tanya Tagaq) / Lula Lounge 2014-04-17 (Thursday) [FB event]

Absolutely Free (DOOMSQUAD / Kira May) / 3030 2014-04-19 (Saturday) [FB event]

Construction Vol. 1 ["A summer all-ages music series" from the Long Winter crew] (feat. Tasseomancy / Wish / RLDML) / Double Double Land 2014-04-19 (Saturday) [FB event]

The Good Family [April residency! Early show every Monday in April!] / The Dakota Tavern 2014-04-21 (Monday) [more info]

Wavelength 596: NICE [co-presented with Dalton Higgins] (feat. Complaints Dept / Most People / pHoenix Pagliacci / Ought) / Tattoo 2014-04-24 (Thursday) [FB event]

Zones (Mystic Triangle / Beard Closet) / Holy Oak Café 2014-04-25 (Saturday) [FB event]

The Good Family [April residency! Early show every Monday in April!] / The Dakota Tavern 2014-04-28 (Monday) [more info]

Teenanger (TV Freaks / DAS RAD) / Izakaya Sushi House 2014-05-17 (Saturday) [FB event]

Recording: Ryan Driver + Musica Reflecta

Artist: Ryan Driver + Musica Reflecta

Song: Once

Recorded at The Tranzac (Main Hall) – "Continuous Events (clapping optional)", March 22, 2014.

Ryan Driver + Musica Reflecta - Once

Full review to follow. This lovely evening was a joint effort by chamber ensemble Musica Reflecta and Thom Gill and Colin Fisher's Love Nation. Mixing compositions, improvisations, orchestrated pop tunes, readings and more, the night was presented as a non-stop suite.

Having a chance to hear Ryan Driver with full-on orch-pop backing was one of the night's big treats — hopefully this will be more than a one-off.

Recording: Thom Gill + Musica Reflecta

Artist: Thom Gill + Musica Reflecta

Song: Consider Me Gone [Reba McEntire cover]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Main Hall) – "Continuous Events (clapping optional)", March 22, 2014.

Thom Gill + Musica Reflecta - Consider Me Gone

Full review to follow. This lovely evening was a joint effort by chamber ensemble Musica Reflecta and Thom Gill and Colin Fisher's Love Nation. Mixing compositions, improvisations, orchestrated pop tunes, readings and more, the night was presented as a non-stop suite.

With strings and winds behind him, Thom Gill went countrypolitan, bringing tunes by Alan Jackson and Reba McEntire, pulling the night's juxtapositions of styles in a completely unexpected direction.

Recording: Musica Reflecta

Artist: Musica Reflecta

Song: Arbitrage II [fragment recombination edit] (Composer: Jason Doell)

Recorded at The Tranzac (Main Hall) – "Continuous Events (clapping optional)", March 22, 2014.

Musica Reflecta - Arbitrage II [fragment recombination edit]

Full review to follow. This lovely evening was a joint effort by chamber ensemble Musica Reflecta and Thom Gill and Colin Fisher's Love Nation. Mixing compositions, improvisations, orchestrated pop tunes, readings and more, the night was presented as a non-stop suite.

After leading off the evening with some of his music box pieces, this new piece by Jason Doell (the recent winner of the Toronto Emerging Composer Award) was performed by Musica Reflecta's ensemble. This carried its momentum with distributed string-plucks and a series of quietly imposing textures. [Do note that because of the limitations of my recording gear, I couldn't really capture the quiet bits in proper fidelity, so consider this a "condensed books" version of the piece, stitching together some of the segments.]