Recording: The Disraelis

Artist: The Disraelis

Song: The Struggler

Recorded at The Baby G, May 20, 2017.

The Disraelis - The Struggler

Celebrating the vinyl release of their Life's a Beach EP, this formally added five more songs to the slow-simmering band's discography. A long time coming, this now-rarer-than-they-used-to-be Optical Sounds party felt a bit out of place, not being at The Silver Dollar, but we all adapt and struggle on, such as we can.

Recording: B-17

Artist: B-17

Song: Shall We, Sunshine^*

Recorded at The Silver Dollar Room, May 20, 2016.

B-17 - Shall We, Sunshine

Feeling a bit like an Optical Sounds reunion was taking place in the crowd, B-17 were in as ferocious/focused form as I've seen 'em — especially drummer Nick Kervin, who was leaning into the material with a vengeance. Celebrating the release of their Goodbye album, there was a razor-sharp take on album closer "Dropped" and a couple new songs to boot.

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

Recording: Prince Ness

Artist: Prince Ness

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at The Silver Dollar Room, May 20, 2016.

Prince Ness - unknown

I still can't come up with a better description for this group than "trebly naive jangle", but every time I see them I remember how much room there is to explore within those parameters. Within the songs' clean lines, there's always an appealing earworm or two, such as that high-on-the-neck four-note descending bass riff in this new one.

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

Recording: B-17

Artist: B-17

Song: You Don't Come Around Anymore^*

Recorded at The Garrison ("Just a Shot Away: Optical Sounds Benefit for War Child Canada"), April 2, 2015.

B-17 - You Don't Come Around Anymore

'Twas a generously-spirited night at The Garrison as local label Optical Sounds helped put together this benefit gig for War Child Canada. B-17 closed out the night with a focused burst of rock energy, a rather satisfying bit of work for a good cause.

^* I don't have any formal word on this title, but it seems rather probable. Please leave a comment if you know for sure!

Recording: The Auras

Artist: The Auras

Song: Love Just Spirals On

Recorded at The Garrison ("Just a Shot Away: Optical Sounds Benefit for War Child Canada"), April 2, 2015.

The Auras - Love Just Spirals On

'Twas a generously-spirited night at The Garrison as local label Optical Sounds helped put together this benefit gig for War Child Canada. It had been a little while since I'd caught The Auras collective playing, and it sounded not only like there was some turnover in their setlist, but some older tunes like this one were getting stretched out.

Recording: Prince Ness

Artist: Prince Ness

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at The Garrison ("Just a Shot Away: Optical Sounds Benefit for War Child Canada"), April 2, 2015.

Prince Ness - unknown

'Twas a generously-spirited night at The Garrison as local label Optical Sounds helped put together this benefit gig for War Child Canada. Friends of the label Prince Ness started the night off with their arch and deadpan cool tunes.

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

Recording: B-17

Artist: B-17

Song: The Girl With the Raven Hair^*

Recorded at The Great Hall ("Psych Pop Volume 2 Release Party"), March 15, 2014.

B-17 - The Girl With the Raven Hair

Full review to follow. The label's flagship act closed out Optical Sounds' party at The Great Hall, which marked not only the release of the label's new compilation but also vocalist/guitarist Richie Gibson's birthday. This new one's a bit of a dark, menacing trip, so it's no surprise that once tension ratchets up a bit, the cosmic radio dial suddenly lurches and channels the 13th Floor Elevators for a moment.

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

Recording: The BB Guns

Artist: The BB Guns

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at The Great Hall ("Psych Pop Volume 2 Release Party"), March 15, 2014.

The BB Guns - unknown

Full review to follow. The BB Guns track on Optical Sounds' new compilation might be of a piece with the work on the band's EP, but this set revealed that there's some interesting transformations afoot. Don't just pigeonhole them as "girl group garage" — the new material is a bit more textured and stretched out with psychedelic swirls. That forthcoming album is gonna be mighty inneresting.

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

Recording: The Disraelis

Artist: The Disraelis

Song: Cherry Red

Recorded at The Great Hall ("Psych Pop Volume 2 Release Party"), March 15, 2014.

The Disraelis - Cherry Red

Full review to follow. The final track (and a highlight) of Optical Sounds' second survey of the label's acts and allies, there's as much gorgeous craft in this song's composition as there is shaggy grandeur in its execution.

Recording: Prince Ness

Artist: Prince Ness

Song: Love Junkie

Recorded at The Great Hall ("Psych Pop Volume 2 Release Party"), March 15, 2014.

Prince Ness - Love Junkie

Full review to follow. Celebrating the release of their second compilation of music from and associated with their label, Optical Sounds threw a party with no fewer than eight of the comp's bands on stage. Prince Ness was the only one I hadn't seen before, but their trebly naive jangle fit right into the fabric of the night.

Recording: The Auras

Artist: The Auras

Song: Desert Dream (Nothing Is Real)

Recorded at The Horseshoe Tavern, August 31, 2013.

The Auras - Desert Dream (Nothing Is Real)

Full review to follow. Continuing to hone their craft, last year's fine EP now has a companion. On stage, the six-piece continues to impress, rocking forcefully, but never trying to do too much at once.

Recording: Sun Stone Revolvers

Artist: Sun Stone Revolvers

Song: Born Again

Recorded at The Horseshoe Tavern, August 31, 2013.

Sun Stone Revolvers - Born Again

Full review to follow. Familiar to local garage-psych heads for a while now, Revolvers have recently extended their name to the more distinctive Sun Stone Revolvers, and their long-awaited second album is now about to drop. They'll be celebrating its release with a party at El Mocambo on Saturday, September 14th.

Sunday Grab-This!

Sunday Grab-This!

In lieu of a Sunday Playlist this week, here's something even better that you can stream/download for gratis!

I've made no secret 'round these parts for my love of local label Optical Sounds. The bands affiliated with the label put on great live shows and have put out some essential records over the past few years. Now, you can get a sense of all that goodness squeezed into one package, with a new label compilation featuring a tracklist selected by Will Carruthers (Spacemen 3, Spiritualized, Brian Jonestown Massacre). Those very same bands tend to be a shared love of everyone in the OS family, so even if there's a terrific variety here, there is something holding it all together.

You can download or stream the album over at Optical Sounds' bandcamp, or also via the label website, where you can read a bit more about each of the bands involved. This is essential T.O.!

Plus, to celebrate the compilation, OS is throwing a two-night celebration at The Silver Dollar, with many of these bands playing. Be there on Thursday, November 8th (live sets from Ostrich Tuning, The Disraelis, Flowers of Hell, The Auras, Planet Creature) and Friday, November 9th (live sets from B-17, Revolvers, Volcano Playground, The BB Guns, Persian Rugs). Both nights are $8 at the door. Facebook event here.

1000 Songs: Robert Gibson

1000 Songs: Robert Gibson

I have now posted one thousand songs from my live recordings to this blog. My introductory thoughts on that landmark can be found here, but long story short: I asked some folks to pick some of their favourites to help me celebrate.

Today's list is from Robert Gibson of Toronto's Optical Sounds label (twitter: @OpticalSounds)

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Action Makes - Buddies

B-17 - Bad Situation

The Disraelis - In Memory

Flowers of Hell - O [excerpt]

The Hoa Hoa's - Grew Up on The Seeds

Ostrich Tuning - Gender Trouble (Bodies That Matter)

Planet Creature - My Baby

Revolvers - Break it Loose

Your 33 Black Angels - Psycho On Your Side

I promise this started out differently. I love Mechanical Forest Sound's premise as a blog and fully intended to select some great tracks without it turning into an Optical Sounds festival. BUT, how could I include some bands from the label my brother and I founded and maintain and not all of them? So, OUT ya go J Mascis, Love Is All, The Radio Dept, Simply Saucer, etc and IN with our friends and their amazing bands. Joe, you've managed to record every band on our label except Magic Shoppe. This is understandable tho - they've never been to Canada. :)

We're throwing a party on Saturday Mar 10 at Double Double Land in Kensington Market. It's in celebration of Your 33 Black Angels' latest release, "Moon and Morning Star".

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You can always click on the tags below to read more about the shows these songs came from. Have there been four or five songs posted here that made an impact on you? If you'd like to get in on the action and make a list, feel free to send me an email: mechanicalforestsound@gmail.com.