Recording: Chik White

Artist: Chik White

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at Ratio (Decreation – Night 4), June 10, 2017.

Chik White - unknown

Given the internal and external pressures that come to bear, it's no surprise that no DIY space lasts forever. It still made it a sad occasion to learn that Ratio was winding down its active presence, news leavened slightly with the corresponding announcement of a series of farewell shows, with many artists making a final return to the space. Known as the founder of Divorce Records and Halifax's Obey Convention, Darcy Spidle's arrival at Ratio felt like a state visit from an ambassador of Halifax's thriving DIY scene. Self-consciously warning the crowd, "it's a little ludicrous" before beginning, he presented a set of mouth-sounds, mixing vocal grunt/mutters with outside-the-box jaw-harp sproinging. Sometimes sounding like a man in a losing battle with asphyxia, there is indeed a certain amount of melodramatic goofiness involved — but Spidle never treated it as camp. No surprise that Paul Dutton was spotted in the crowd taking this in — Spidel is definitely following that horseman's path.

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