Pete Shelley Homosapien (Retro 014)

In May 1982, Former Buzzcocks lead singer Pete Shelley's classic space age new wave eighties track hit the pop charts. Nice!! Is that a pet computer I see in the video.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HwmO_GZfzI

Caitlin Rose - Piledriver Waltz (Hype 0221)

Some nice twangy alt country music from Caitlin Rose on the Domino Records label. Nice! Reminds me of my first visit to the Dakota Tavern on Ossington.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJWiUOIpUS8

Men Without Hats -- Head Above Water (Hype 0220)

Were you confused when this was labelled as a hype track and not a retro track? Yes. Men Without Hats is back with a new single called Head Above Water which is out at the end of May called Love In The Age of War. Welcome back Ivan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHRkG_7o6WA

Suckers - Turn On The Sunshine (Hype 0219)

Brand new indiepop track from the Suckers. We found out about this band through our concert companion lau_ally who travelled the world interviewing these guys. Taken from their sweet titled second album called Candy Salad out soon/now. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZjfpBO_n2w

Fantastic Mr Fox (Podcast)

Link: http://www.xlr8r.com/podcast/2012/04/fantastic-mr-fox

Not so much Hype "Track" of the Day as Hype "Podcast" of the Day. This podcast was released ahead of Fantastic Mr Fox's upcoming "San'en" EP. If you saw The xx during the band's 2010 North American tour, Fantastic Mr Fox was the DJ spinning tunes between the sets of the different bands. Enjoy.

Yann Tiersen w/ Felix at The Phoenix, May 2nd, 2012

On a thunderstorming day, IKvsDK and Tuco took to the streets to Occupy Indie Rock at the Phoenix. Joining us were an eclectic bunch with young Amélie-smitten ladies rubbing shoulders with aged cinephiles. Doors opened at 8pm and there were a surprising number that arrived early. By the time we got in, the balcony seating was all gone.

The merchanidise table was set up in the back of the Phoenix (usually it's in the room off of the coat check) with some vinyl, CDs, and a Yann Tiersen piano book which looked tempting. Settled in about two-thirds of the way back near the centre with about half of the venue populated.

Kicking off the festivities was Felix, a British trio: drummer, guitar and singer/synth. I think this is the singer's youtube channel. Felix introduced themselves and quietly eased into their opening track.

The guitar and drums are spare and the synth is minimal. This band is really about the singer. She finishes a track (or two) and pauses to introduce the band who happen to be part of Yann Tiersen's band as well. She also mentions they have sold out of their CDs so there is no more for any new fans at the show. IKvsDK grits his teeth at the missed opportunity.

The singer has a nice voice. Some words are getting lost due to some chatter going on. Tuco notes alot of young ladies wandering around - spring time in Toronto. Felix is quietly singing; it's a "coffee house" vibe despite the venue. One would think of adapting the song a bit to the surroundings. They seem to like odd time signatures like 6/8 time and 5/4 time.

The songs seem to get quieter and more melancholy. Solemn with no effects except at the very end with a guitar strum and a feedback loop. The roadie politely shuts it down after a few minutes.

Next up is the main act. Six guys bound on stage: drums, guitar, bass and two synths and what looks like a DJing deck with a crash cymbal attached to the stand. Yann Tiersen is front and centre. There's a white background behind the stage which would see some soothing Hallmarkesque visuals throughout the concert. A lone Orange amp drives the sound.

The band starts off with some down tracks - straight rock beat with swimmy effects; a marked contrast from the opener. In the second song, Tiersen seems to have some problem with his guitar and this gets sorted out by the end of the song. Tuco likes the bass and generally the balance of the whole ensemble. No overpowering bass or drums - just a nice level to everything.

Another gloomy "depressing" track but a great tune. Very melodic. So far the songs last about three to four minutes with the endings being very clean and kind of out of the blue but it works. Alot can be said in this time frame and the songs don't seem to want for length.

Tiersen introduces another with: "Next one is a love song. It's called 'Fuck me'." Gets a giggle out of the appreciative audience. This one is a bit more rock with a heavier bass which invites an odd crowd reaction. Despite one girl who is kind of swaying in front of me, most are standing sort of in their own private reverie soaking up the sound. The sightlines are pretty good this time around.

Tiersen hauls out a talk box and uses it with a light touch. This is not T-Pain, it's something else. This time it's spelling as the word "PALESTINE" beams onto the backscreen. Tiersen works the talk box to spell it out and some in the crowd start to cheer. The French seem passionate about places OTHER countries have ruined.

Some of the songs featured Tiersen singing/chanting into a microphone but a number included three and four part harmonies with others in the band. These were simple but very effective. One track had a duet with the guitar picking out the chords underneath - nice technique.

Some songs were more indie rock with two chord jams. The chords would be separated by a minor third and would alternate chords then alternate in volumes (loud then soft then loud again). Reminded me a bit of Mogwai. One notable change from this was the drum building up a crescendo over a few bars and then merging into a synthesizer. Wish I knew the name of that track.

The prize though was Tiersen's violin which was impressive. Visually it was impressive to see Tiersen sawing in the middle of the stage surrounded by amps and synthesizers, two loose fibrous strands from his bow dancing in the spotlight. It was like he was holding technology at bay. One solo had the audience whooting in recognition - likely a movie soundtrack theme.

"More 'Nash the Slash'" muttered IKvsDK. Tuco nodded.

Hey Today! - 83 (Hype 0218)

Instrumental funky electro track by Hey Today off the very hip french label Kitsune Music which we won't stop going on about. Stormin!


Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzejW8uNC8E

The Primitives Turn Off The Moon (Hype 0217)

Brand new single from The Primitives taken from their first album in twenty years called Echoes And Rhymes off the Elefant Records label. Sixties influenced pop in the spirit of the Pippettes. Definately different than their late eighties pop we loved them for.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBhkykVMBPI&ob=av2e

Bear In Heaven Blouse Doldrums May 5, 2012 The Garrision, Toronto

‏@IKvsDK: Doldrums, Blouse, and Bear in Heaven #garrison After suffering through another Toronto FC loss on Saturday I reconciled my evening with some pulled pork poutine at the Lakeview and a stop at the Garrison for the Bear In Heaven show. I was actually there for Blouse and Bear In Heaven as an added bonus.

Got to the Garrison alittle too early (9:00) to hear Blouse doing Soundcheck. I relagated myself to the front bar in the Garrison. The venue has recently revised its layout to half concert venue/half Ossington hipster bar with IPOD dj in the front. Nobody was in the hipster bar either so grabbed a Grid and a beer and chilled. My company for the night Panic Manual had bailed on me so was taking this on solo.

Doldrums started at about 10:00 so I figured this was going to be a late night. I was super impressed with the cut and paste sound of the Doldrums which tonight was one person on keyboards and vocals. I'd heard some tracks via the internet and it hadn't really done much for me. May need to revisit.
 

Up next was Blouse which are a super hip eighties alternative gothic sounding band out of the USA on Captured Tracks. Panic Manual had seen them down at SXSW and had set my expectations very low. Maybe thats why I enjoyed their low key set which included the great singles Shadow and Into The Black.

Finally at about 11:45, Bear In Heaven hit the stage . Lead singer Jon Philpot encouraged us to get up and join his dance party as the band went through a solid set of mesmorizing high energy indie electro pop. Joe Stickney (1/2 drum machine, 1/2 human) took drumming to the next level. The band is currently out supporting their superbad album I Love You, It's Cool which is definately worth picking up. I have a feeling that if this band can add a few more songs to the playlist, reorder the energy of their set, this band will be playing venues like the Sound Academy, or the Phoenix next.

This is what they said on Twitter:

Doldrums

@IKvsDK Doldrums. Pretty good. One guy. Thought it was a woman singing until I put on my glasses. #garrison ‏

@tianafeng: Doldrums!! A tad bizarre hahahaha

@IKvsDK: Doldrums #cut #paste #nice #garrison Blouse

Blouse

‏@joahspearman: About to get treated to my second serving of @BearInHeaven & @BLOUSE in 2 weeks!! I'm liking this #Austin #Toronto #livemusic connection.

@IKvsDK: Blouse taking the stage #garrison #capturedtracks #new4AD

@IKvsDK: Blouse just put on a nice dark set at the garrison #capturedtracks #toronto

@KDahlinNolan: #Blouse was fantastic at the Garrison tonight! Looking forward to discovering more about them. Also, fave new drummer = #BearInHeaven

@Blouse Toronto loves weed. (IKDK: No, our drug of choice is Captured Tracks)

Bear In Heaven

@IKvsDK: Bear In Heaven #11:30 #garrison #yawning #waiting

@jamiesoncox: Bear in Heaven's drummer is very impressive, and their lead singer is equally hilarious.

@IKvsDK: Bear In Heaven's lead singer exudes rock star. Fantastic show #garrison

@jamiesoncox: Bear in Heaven's drummer is simply excellent. I don't have a pithy comment for him.
‏
@StephDuce: Bear in heaven at @TheGarrisonTO #toronto #band #show #igtoronto #igers #ignation #dance #party...

‏@InsidiousGhost: Cool beats from Bear in Heaven last night in Toronto. Freaking awesome show!

Search the blog for video reviews of Bear In Heaven and Blouse tracks.

Morten Harket - Scared Of Heights (Hype 0216)

A-ha frontman Morten Harket with a solo single off his new album Out Of My Hands. A-ha just recently completed a world tour and broke up. Morten continues on with his 5th solo album. And here I thought this was his first.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSssA1xkX1U&feature=related

Adam Yauch, Beastie Boys (R.I.P. 004)

47. Too young!!!! Not sure what to say for this one. Saw the Beastie Boys for the first time back in 1985 in Toronto. Licensed To Ill wasn't even out yet. Again, got to relive the madness in 2007 at the ACC in Toronto. One day we will figure out this cancer thing. I'll leave this with Hey Ladies

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Naf5uJYGoiU

Miike Snow w/ Penguin Prison at The Sound Academy, May 1st, 2012

Thanks to the most excellent Panic Manual, Tuco and IKvsDK got a chance to take in some Dream Pop all the way from Sweden.

In preparation, we started out at the Keating Channel Pub that had somehow run out of 1664. Shortly after arriving, a women's curling team pulled up in a tour bus and would later try to pick up IKvsDK ("The Hammer", they called him). Decent fare too.

Got to the Sound Academy. Young crowd milling about. The merchandise table had shirts, vinyl, CDs and flash drives - Tuco would get one of the drives. Settled in midway to the stage, Amsterdam in hand, until the first band, Penguin Prison, emerged.

After a short wait, Penguin Prison from NY took the stage. This foursome featured a bass player, a synthesizer, a drummer and a frontman who would take on a number of other instruments throughout the night. PP launch into their set which has a kind of indie rock feel. The frontman adds some vocals and a few girls at the front scream on cue. It's all very Bieberish to me and I start to drink faster.

Second track has the frontman switch over to working a Stratocaster and we start to feel the influence of the synth guy working some beats into the track. IKvsDK describes the scene succinctly with "indie vocals over a dance beat".

We start to get a feel for the typical Penguin Prison track: it is a longish uptempo jam with a dancey beat, guitar and vocals taking a lead and bass, drums, synth laying down the beat. Each song ends a little prematurely. The frontman starts to rap with the crowd and makes an awkward joke about a "Canadian Tuxedo" - Leave your Americanisms at the border pal. The teenage girls scream incessantly. IKvsDK says this guys is a Rockstar.

One of the tracks is called Don't F*ck With My Money. A few tracks later and the frontman is working a tom drum at the front. He sings, drums and plays guitar. Rockstar.

One nice effect is the use of a flanger while strumming the same note which works pretty well with the dancey beat. These guys are not bad. Basically this is what live dance music is. The frontman goes up to the microphone and states for the benefit of the audience "I make remixes". Rockstar.

Last song is called Multi Millionaire. This track sounds alot like Prince's "I would Die for you". Frontman attempts a guitar solo at the end (so far all of the solos have been vocal). Frontman signs off with a "Thank you for watching". Rockstar.

After Penguin Prison was a long 40 minute break with moody stage lighting and whale music piped through the PA system. This chilled the swelling crowd right out. By the time Miike Snow was ready to take the stage, the place was quite full with sightlines proving troublesome.

Miike Snow is a bunch of guys from Sweden that have some rather delicate tracks that work great in studio. At least that is Tuco's take on their first album. How would this translate to a live show?

The set on stage had something like a large console right in the centre. It looked like the Tardis with lights flashing on and off. A lone dude wandered around the stage doing some kind of ad hoc sound check with the anxious crowd cheering his every movement.

Finally, Miike Snow took the stage and dropped an acoustic wave on the youth of Toronto. And they seemed ready for it. The singer stalked around the stage (he had really good movement for the entire show actually).

The solution to the question above appeared almost instantly. Dancey beats moved the crowd as the more melodic tracks from MS reemerged in its new guise. This wouldn't be like the studio but would still be reasonably close. Miike Snow Live.

The crowd had quite alot of tall people in the wrong places (i.e. in front of Tuco). A few gay individuals plant themselves in front of Tuco and start to smack each others' behinds. Tuco scrambles off to the side to regain his sightlines.

Alot of dancing is going down. Teenage girls dancing with each other. A few crowdsurfers as well. Over on the other side of the floor, people are periodically throwing napkins in the air like confetti. It's a bizarre scene.

More dancing and more tracks. The guy in front of Tuco is swaying like a heavy bag cutting in and out of his sightline. Tuco resists the invitation to throw a few punches and focuses on the set.

Best crowd response and longest jam had to be for Silvia. Will post a setlist if I can find one.

Evans The Death - Threads (Hype 0215)

Another good grungy indiepunk band on Slumberland Records/Fortuna Pop depending on where you are located. Threads is taken from their first self-titled album.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cdk9x3CEca4

Haircut 100 - Love Plus One (Retro 013)

Haircut One Hundred with Love Plus One which just hit 30 years old taken from the Pelican West album. The band only released two albums and lead singer nick Heyward went onto a solo career that featured eight albums.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_msHpEa3_Y&ob=av2e

St. Lucia - We Got It Wrong (Hype 0214)

High energy synthy tropical indie track from St. Lucia called We Got It Wrong. Bring on Spring. Nice!
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZYM3XwgHwA&ob=av2n