5 new Canadian releases have been released for late summer listening.
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At a time when there’s usually a lull before the year-end rush of recordings, June’s usual rush of new music just before festival season kicks off shows no signs of slowing down. Heading into the last five weeks of summer 2022, the number of quality new music releases continues.
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Before we assume that all of these releases are actually just pandemic-paused albums from the last few years, let the record show that these are new sessions created over the last year or so.
From the urban and folk indigenous accent to the adventurous fusion of jazz, classical and electronic music, here are five new listens to seek out.
david strickland
Spirit of Hip Hop: Elements | MNRK music group
Gender: Hip hop
key track: Firemen
Grammy Award-winning artist, producer, engineer and descendant of Mi’kmaq, Innu and Beothuk in Toronto david strickland follows 2020’s Spirit of Hip Hop and its companion 2021’s Spirit of Hip Hop (Remixes) with the next chapter in this celebration of the connection between the indigenous community and hip hop. Emerging and established indigenous rappers from across the continent unite for 14 new rhythmic messages. Among those who go through the genre-hopping session are legends like Eric Sermon and Outlaw By Nature ft. Saukrates for the autobiographical Firekeepers and JRDN, Stump Gets and Sky Stoney for the darkly cool Certainmans. The only Firekeepers hit.
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Odessa
The last good-bye | ninja song
Genre: Electronic
Key Theme: Behind the Sun
Bellingham, Wash. duo Odesza have a fine chill-wave form that has carried over to their first new studio release in five years. Album No. 4 features 13 tracks. Credited to the core of Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight along with a host of other co-writers, including Icelander Olafur Arnalds on Light Day, the tunes feature an impressive list of guest vocalists from soul star Bettye Levette on Last Goodbye to The Knocks. and Låpsley in others. The results can range from the near-whisper of This Version of You to the pop-style Wide Awake or the cinematic bravado of Behind the Sun. It is quite addictive.
Odesza the Last Goodby Tour plays Vancouver on September 23-24 at the PNE Amphitheatre. Tickets/information: ticketleader.ca
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Robert Lee
Char-Ran | robertleebass.com
Genre: Jazz
key track: Seun Sol
Toronto-based bassist and songwriter Lee draws inspiration from Korean folktales, the melancholy romanticism of Studio Ghibli anime features, and rock elements for his latest recording. The seven songs range from the vocal-driven Sun Petals to the nearly eight-minute-long extended improvisation of the Seun-Sol play. Working within this interesting space with Lee is vocalist Carolina Falgas, who brings a charming Brazilian flair to her songs, as well as guitarist Marco Pisani, who likes his electric licks to land more like metal than swinging jazz. The whole band proves to be ready for the adventurous session that we hope will not be the last of this group. Something suggests this as a group that would be better next time.
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listen to it on robertleemusic.bandcamp.com
twin river
when we think of time | light organ registers
Gender: root rock
key track: I’m fine
The latest from Courtney Ewan and Andy Bishop showcases a stripped down sound with a more classic Mazzy Star-esque dream pop feel coupled with I’m Alright’s big arena pop chorus. Ladyhawk’s Ryan Peters is on drums, with Darcy Hancock on bass along with Yukon Blonde’s Louise Burns and Rebecca Gray on backing vocals. As Ewan almost approaches the pitch of Stevie Knicks on Over and Over, Bishop lays down one tight guitar line after another. Lyrically, it’s a dive into incomplete relationships to triumph over challenges like the Other Side. This should attract a lot of new listeners if they happen to hear it.
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Alex Fournier Trio
Six-Ish Plateau | alexfournier.bandcamp.com
Gender: Jazz
key track: Appendix/Agenda
Another Toronto bassist/songwriter fronts Triio as the primary vehicle for his work, which tends to alternate between scripted and loosely improvised sequences. The group’s second release, Six-ish Plateaus, finds the six-member team working on six new songs. From the edgy rhythm laid out by Tom Flemings with breathy guitar trading with vibe musician Michael Davidson in the wonderfully titled opening An Intrepid Toad to the calm build in Addenda/Agenda, which includes some great cymbal and tom work by drummer Stefan Hegerat , this is the kind of external jazz that also appeals to internal listeners. Almost classical at times, the music is full of pleasant surprises.
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