Selected New Releases: April 7, 2017 – Part 3/3

More than 24 new works by Canadian recording artists released this past Friday have come to our attention. We’ll give our usual capsule reviews but are dividing the big lot into three parts alphabetically by title. Below are the stately eight of Part 3.

After hearing Toquade, violinists may be inspired to switch to the viola. Montreal’s Marina Thibeault plays it beautifully on works written for the instrument. There are covers and originals, and she is joined by expert pianist Janelle Fung on some of the tracks. CBC Music recently wrote a nice summary of this exquisite classical album.

Ottawa’s Lynne Hanson dispenses roots-inspired singer-songwriter album Uneven Ground. She is known as playing “porch music with a little red dirt” and her talent on this will brush off any dirt from your boots.

Allophone world music veteran Alex Cuba is back at it. We acquired him from, yes, Cuba, as he settled in Victoria, BC. The two-time JUNO winner contributes to the pool of music this week new album Lo Único Constante. This one is a laidback café music affair, mainly just voice and guitar with some delicate percussion and occasional backup singers.

Hailing from Lafontaine, ON, everybody’s favourite Franco-Ontarian (well, that’s debatable) Damien Robitaille returns with Univers parallèles. The album puts the swag in swagger with an upbeat pop that adds some rockin’ and dancey vibes here and there.

Montreal alternative trio Barry Paquin Roberge gets stranded on the Avalon after finding a pawn shop bargain. A-ha-ha. Voyage Massage is the name of the album. It’s actually an Anglo work that is quirky, funky, and fun. We dig it.

Vancouver alternative band The New Pornographers, still in the running, gift the world with album number seven, Whiteout Conditions. The band won a JUNO back in 2001. As one would expect, the new album is a strong one with lots of good songs.

A couple of EPs came to our attention this week. Jennifer Gélinas from Shawinigan dabbles in world music using multiple languages including French and Spanish on disc D’Kana. It features Antonio Idiaquez. Montreal’s Black Sails for Red Seas offers wall-of-sound alternative rock on EP Wave II.

Selected New Releases 10 July 2015

Today is the first day of the changeover in Canada for new music releases. Previously happening Tuesdays, we have now joined the new international standard of New Music Fridays. We have four new LPs and four EPs. Let’s start with the full-length albums.

Toronto’s Luke Nicholson has not yet earned a JUNO nomination but one at the Genies for contributing an original song to Canadian cinema. The best description of the new album Frantic City is perhaps adult contemporary. Hamilton’s Twin Within is a folk rock duo; album Horizontal Lines contains some remarkable writing along the lines of Simon & Garfunkel. Pictou County, NS JUNO nominee Dave Gunning gives us his latest roots confection, Lift. Finally, Hamilton JUNO nominee Douglas Cameron, who scored Top 40 pop-rock hit “Mona with the Children” back in 1985 and has been dabbling in children’s music since, tries his hand at a country-blues work entitled Riverdale and does well.

Langley, BC country outfit The Washboard Union releases fine EP In My Bones. Further exquisite roots music appears from Toronto quintet The Key Frames care of EP Monophone Heart. Alee is a newer country artist from Edmonton and has launched fantastic EP Say Hello to Goodbye. Black Sails for Red Seas of Montreal serve alternative rock on Wave: I.

In the realm of stand-alone singles, Alyssa Reid has returned from last year’s super cool album Time Bomb with new single “Dangerous”. Other new singles this week include Kardinal Offishall‘s “Baby It’s U!”, Charlotte Cardin‘s “Big Boy”, Dirty Ghosts‘ “Cataract”, Motel 72‘s “Toute la nuit”, and Tim Hicks‘ “Young, Alive and in Love”.