Cold Specks plus Moby… sort of
Techno guru Moby, of multimillion-selling album Play, just released his latest effort, Innocents, on the acclaimed Arts & Crafts record label. It’s a solid effort, but what I love is the inclusion of local phenom Al Spx, otherwise known as Cold Specks, on two of the album’s better tracks: “A Case For Shame” and “Tell Me.”
After her “doom soul” album, this style of music seems an obvious direction for Cold Specks, and I’m hoping this is a hint of things to come. Check out the official video for “A Case For Shame” below:
Hawkin’ a one-man show
Musical chameleon Hawksley Workman has created sweet music in more genres than Rob Ford has chins. Kidding! But perhaps not so surprisingly, he’s never done cabaret. But that all ended when his one-man show, The God That Comes, inspired by the 2,400-year-old drama The Bacchae, premiered to rave reviews at Alberta Theatre Works. Workman has released an album of the show and is embarking on a North American tour that includes a stop at Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre next June. Check out the teaser trailer for the show here:
THE GOD THAT COMES promo clip from 2b theatre company on Vimeo.
Digital punk
I love that Eamon McGrath sent his new album into the office with a note thanking me for supporting independent music. Really, when it comes to something this good, it’s my pleasure. Exile Part 1 is out in a digital-only format Oct. 15 and is the first part of a three album series that will eventually lead to a full-length vinyl release in 2014. Exile Part 1 contains three top-notch songs that are more indie rock than punk, punctuated by McGrath’s fine gravely growl of a voice. Check out the acoustic B-side for one of his new songs, “Exile.” Quite stunning.
Boom goes the Grain-a-mite?
Toronto’s Sebastien Grainger, of Death From Above 1979 acclaim, has announced a new album dubbed Yours To Discover, set for release on Nov. 12 via Last Gang Records. Judging by the first single, “Going With You,” the album is an upbeat, dare I say happy affair — the yin to Death From Above’s ferocious yang. Yeah, I just wrote that. Deal with it! Check out the first single below.
Sonic Youth alum
A founding member of iconic band Sonic Youth, Lee Ranaldo — along with his current band, The Dust — hits the Horseshoe Tavern on Oct. 11 in support of their new release, Last Night on Earth. It’s a phenomenal record, epic in scope, with off-the-charts musicianship. This will be a very good show from a very good band. Check out the full album stream here.