Whilst inconsistent, Ten Kens’ second LP shows significant promise in its raucous doom-rock bluster.
Canada
TLOBF Interview // Woodpigeon
TLOBF were lucky enough to be able to ask some probing questions of Mark Hamilton, Woodpigeon’s frontman, primary vocalist and songwriter. Here follow his responses, touching on subjects like lyrical concerns, new musical directions, and the new album’s charming cover art.
Woodpigeon – Die Stadt Muzikanten
Mark Hamilton immersed himself in the past to write the songs on “Die Stadt Muzikanten”, but Woodpigeon still point to the future.
Dan Mangan – Nice, Nice, Very Nice
Can the eagerly awaited second album from Vancouver-based man of the moment Dan Mangan live up to expectations?
The Great Escape Festival – 14-16 May, Brighton
Collapsing keyboards, hilarious publicity blunders, rain, haircuts, cues….oh and some excellent live music. Caution….this review contains the phrase “it is about as inappropriate in this setting as Slayer opening for Cliff Richard”.
Timber Timbre sign to Arts & Crafts
Toronto’s Timber Timbre gets a UK release July 28th after inking a Worldwide deal with Arts & Crafts.
Dan Mangan – Roboteering EP
This is an accomplished, well-rounded set of songs which form an often delicate, sometimes triumphant EP. It will certainly win Mangan new fans – on the basis of Roboteering, we ought to be excited about his forthcoming album.
Canadian Blast at The Great Escape
If you’re going to The Great Escape this week, why not treat yourself to a showcase of the finest Canadian acts around.
Metric – Fantasies
‘Fantasies’ is littered with lyrics that catch you in your step, as Haines’ strong writing hand captures the tug of life, the pains of love and the fantasies of living. Merlin Jones reviews.
Neil Young – Fork In The Road
Shakey is angry. With bankers, politicians and car manufacturers. If you can get past the bombast, Ro Cemm thinks this may just be one of the best protest records of the Credit Crunch era.
Patrick Watson released new album, plays Union Chapel
Patrick Watson has announced details of a new album in May and a date at the Union Chapel following in June.
Great Lake Swimmers – Lost Channels
An album mixing up melodic folk rock with moments of Van Occupanther harmonies through visitations of banjo and fiddle to the polite wrist-slashing melancholy of The Cowboy Junkies.
Rock Plaza Central sign to Paper Bag records for new releases
Rock Plaza Central sign to Paper Bag records and gear up for the release of their new album, the follow-up to 2006′s fantastic “Are We Not Horses?”.
Julie Doiron – I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day
I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day is: a short 1/2 hour listen, nicely put-together, engaging, slightly annoying if you listen to it in a cynical mood, but overall comforting and warm. Not bad at all.
Woodpigeon – Treasury Library Canada
Folk music is better off with Woodpigeon around. They challenge convention, without any loss of honesty or respect. Shain Shapiro reviews the latest from one of Canada’s finest.
Share – Pedestrian
The charm here is in Share’s ability to craft really small intimate songs that sound gigantic. ‘Pedestrian’ is a record of poetry, full of stories to embrace.
