Archive for the canadian Category

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Ceramic Hello- The Absence of a Canary LP

Posted in 1980s, 1981, 2000s, brett wickens, canadian, ceramic hello, minimal, synth on August 18, 2008 by Frankie Teardrop

Here’s another request for you folks to kickstart the week. On the slab is Canadian minimal wave band Ceramic Hello’s one and only album, released in 1981. Ceramic Hello formed in 1980 and lasted only 2 years before disbanding, and have never played live. The band consisted of Brett Wickens (ex-Spoons) and Roger Humphreys (a more classically focused musician), who previously played one show together as The Jovial Foresters.

Cermaic Hello released one lone 7” single and the record below, which has been reissued in 2006 by Vinyl on Demand. The reissue contains a record of rare demo materials that were once slated for the band’s second record, and also includes a track by The Partnership, a one-off collaboration between Wickens, Martha Ladly and Andy McCluskey of OMD. The project never got off the ground, but this one track appears on the reissue.

Otherwise, after Ceramic Hello’s split, Brett Wickens began working with Jah Wobble and focused heavily on graphic design, now based in California. Meanwhile, Roger released one limited run folk/psych record in 1996, entitled Beyond the Wall of Sleep. These days, rumor has it that Humprheys and Wickens are working together on a second Ceramic Hello record, due for release soon. Exciting news, if so!

As far as the LP is concerned, I haven’t uploaded the extra goodies, and won’t, as though the first run of the double LP reissue is out of print, plans are in the works to print a second edition run, along with a CD containing all the same tracks. So anyone eager to get those, have a bit of patience and keep your eyes peeled over at Vinyl on Demand and support the band proper! Otherwise, here’s the main feature for your previewing pleasure:

Ceramic Hello- The Absence of a Canary LP
1. The Diesquad
2. Ex / Im
3. Climatic Nouveaux
4. Conversation Between Units
5. Geometry
6. Staticarnival
7. Symphony Of Shudders
8. A Grey Man
9. Footsteps In The Fog
10. Ringing In The Sane
11. Trio
12. Gestures
13. Little Tune (Warlike)
14. Dig That Crazy Beat

*DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED* – Reissue now available!

If you’re hip to facebook, there’s a Ceramic Hello group. Click below for both a link to the group and to the band’s homepage:

Ceramic Hello facebook page
Ceramic Hello dot com

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Duchess Says- Noviçiat Mère-Perruche EP

Posted in 2000s, 2005, canadian, duchess says, mutant, synthpunk on December 10, 2007 by Frankie Teardrop

Happy Monday, ladies and gents… Today’s post features a recent favorite EP by mutant synthpunk act Duchess Says, a French-Candian outfit featuring a full lineup of guitars, drums, synths, and intensely driving female vocals.

Formed in 2003, Duchess says have released a lone EP, winning over fans with their catchy tracks and otherwise eccentricity, marrying their abrasive dancefloor sound with hyperactive stage performances and theatrics, including readings from the Pamphlet of Budgerigars, an alternate religious text created by members of the band, who claim to serve in the Church of Budgerigars. According to scattered interviews and reviews, he church primarily celebrates the consumption of beer, numerology, and the band itself.

I’ve uploaded the band’s 2005 EP, Noviçiat Mère-Perruche. Four tracks long, and featuring a cover of (previously uploaded) Six Finger Satellite’s ‘Rabies’, it’s a shame it’s so short, since it leaves you wanting more.

Details:

Duchess Says- Noviçiat Mère-Perruche EP
1. In Serial
2. Cut Up
3. Rabies (Babies Got The)
4. Black Flag

*download it here*

and for your viewing pleasure, here’s a live clip of the band performing ‘Black Flag,’ the final (and my favorite) track from Noviçiat Mère-Perruche.

Though it seems as if their initial EP is out of print, the band has made a remix single for ‘Black Flag’ available only on vinyl. Click below for a link to snap one up for yourself…

‘Black Flag’ single on Summer Lovers Unlimited
Duchess Says on myspace

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An April March- Lava 7”

Posted in 1990s, an april march, canadian, dreampop, shoegaze on October 12, 2007 by Frankie Teardrop

Finally! Fall weather! The most recent bout of New York rain has dropped temperatures considerably, and with the onset of autumn, I tend to dust off most of my shoegaze collection and listen to it obsessively. Don’t worry folks, I won’t be clogging up these pages with dreampop (unless you ask, of course), but to kick off the first proper week of autumn, I’ll toss one out.

Today’s band is An April March (not to be confused with ye-ye revivalist April March), a four piece unit hailing from Toronto, Canada. Formed in 1989, the band lasted a decade before splitting up, leaving behind a trail of 7” singles and 4 full length records. The band combined the dark-bass driven fury of post-punk with a budding shoegaze sound- swirls of guitar feedback and heavily chorused female vocals.

The band split in 1999 after a handful of parting gigs, and vocalist/guitarist Danella Hocevar and guitarist Christopher Perry soon formed the band rethotred.

Today’s tracks compromise their 1994 7” single for ‘Lava.’ The A-side also appears on their 1995 EP Instruments of Lust and Fury while the B-side was already released on their 1993 record Impatiens.

An April March- Lava 7”
1. Lava
2. Gates Within Us

*download it here*

There’s a video for “Lava” as well!

A  few of their cds, cassettes, and vinyl can still be found through various online outfits, they manage to fetch a hefty sum from those who are aware of their scarcity! Fortunately, yours truly managed to score the 7” single posted above for a mere buck back in my college days, so have hope if you’re a collector!

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