Slim Twig announces new album
Toronto singer/songwriter Slim Twig has pegged Aug. 21 for the release of Sof' Sike, described as a "dramatic left (er, make that a right) turn follow-up to 2009's Contempt! and replaces analog drum machines and scratched record samples with psychedelic rumblings of live instrumentation." A tour announcement is forthcoming, and Slim is also prepping additional releases for the fall.
Check out the first song from the album here:
Kat out of the bag
Kat Burns fans rejoice. The former Forest City Lovers singer is back with the debut release from her new musical project KASHKA. Vichada is out today, July 17, as a digital album as well as a limited edition purple cassette. The album features a collaboration between Burns and long-time Forest City Lovers hired hand James Bunton which took place, largely, in a Toronto studio over the past winter. If the first two tracks are any indication, Burns has a much fuller sound than in previous work: rich, textured, but still plenty of fun. Preview a couple tracks from the new album:
Hannah and her music
Up-and-coming local songstress Hannah Georgas has signed on to Toronto-based outfit Dine Alone Records, with a new album on the way Oct. 2. "We are excited she trusted us to be a part of her team in the next chapters of her career," says Joel Carriere, president, founder and owner of Dine Alone. "We've been fans since This Is Good and can't wait to introduce her self-titled record to the world." The new album was recorded in the home studio of producer Graham Walsh (Holy F–k), and, not suprisingly, is said to veer into "more electronic and atmospheric territory."
Watch Georgas playing the song "Enemies" from the upcoming release:
The Slate report
Toronto musician Gavin Slate is getting a bit of notoriety for his clever prank on Starbucks. The singer created his own Starbucks pick of the week download cards and snuck them into several Toronto locations. The project is chronicled in the music video for Slate's song "Life As A Salesman," which is a good tune to boot. Check out the video below.
Stars are shining
Canadian band Stars announced a North American tour in support of their sixth full-length album, The North, due out on Sept. 4. The band, fronted by Amy Milan, offered up their first track from the album, "The Theory of Relativity," as a free download. The band, which also includes Torquil Campbell, Chris Seligman, Evan Cranley and Pat McGee, plays Toronto on Nov. 24, opening for Metric at the Air Canada Centre. The album will be released on Soft Revolution Records/ATO.
Metz prep big Sub Pop release
Loud and proud local rockers Metz, garnering some serious buzz coming out of NXNE last month, have pegged Oct. 9 as the big day for their debut full-length release on the revered Sub Pop label. The band — Alex Edkins, Hayden Menzies and Chris Slorach — will be touring throughout the U.S. in August. A preview of the new album shows the band in full sonic assault mode with no holding back whatsoever. It is a dizzying barrage (in a good way), and will surely mean some serious attention. Check them out!