Recording: The Birth of Troubling Forms

Artist: The Birth of Troubling Forms

Song: Genuine [excerpt]

Recorded at Array Space (Audiopollination Halloween Special), October 31, 2017.

The Birth of Troubling Forms - Genuine [excerpt]

Celebrating the season with costumes and a horror flick, Audiopollination brought together three sets of improvised sounds for a night of Halloween fun. This group of improvised soundtrack-makers was playing behind an abridged version of Robert Wiene's 1921 silent horror flick Genuine. The group this time 'round featured Alan Bloor (amplified metal), Ambrose Pottie (percussion), Michael Lynn (bass + clarinet) and Tina Kiik (accordion) and they vibed off the eye-popping expressionist sets (probably more than the famously elusive plot, which was all the more scattered in a short version of a short version of the film) with quite darkly-tasty results.

Recording: Polka Dogs

Artist: Polka Dogs

Songs: Beardy Boy + [unknown]^*

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Somewhere There Creative Music Festival – Show 3 afterparty), February 27, 2016.

Polka Dogs - Beardy Boy + [unknown]

Polka might not be the first genre one'd expect to see at a festival dedicated to improvisation and exploration, but members of this longstanding group (including Tina Kiik and Ambrose Pottie) have done lots of work in improvising circles. Rounded out by Colin Couch (tuba) and Tom Walsh (trombone), this band can add either oompah party propulsion or sensitive colouring as needed to back the songs of vocalist/banjo player John Millard, whose meditations on life's silly and sublime moments were punctuated by vivid stories. Founded at the end of the 80's, Polka Dogs had a busy run through the mid-90's before going their separate ways. Reforming a year or so ago, they played two sets of vital and entertaining music, ending with this one-two punch with an audience shout-along followed by a meditative closing statement. [While you keep an eye out for further shows, you can explore the band's recorded legacy over at their Bandcamp.]

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