‘Flow’ by Emma-Lee, as featured in The Border and Degrassi.

Starting completely sombre and using the full 5:12 to redefine the definition of ‘the build’.  Nearing the end of ‘Very First Time’ by Alexander Fairchild, you hear the vocal hook accompanied by layer after layer, each added subtly; you wonder how it all got so big.

You can’t really argue with a driving beat, ringing distorted guitars and a catchy chorus.  This one is about the City.

Already pitched it to ‘The City’, they didn’t go for it.

It was 2007 when Toronto singer/songwriter Donovan Woods released The Hold Up; an album that Exclaim! called “an engaging and articulate window into the heart of an extremely unique writer“. Three years later, Donovan has pushed his ‘gruff but surprisingly tender’ voice up front in the 12 songs of this year’s “The Widowmaker“. This time around, expect touches of piano, banjo, synth tones and female backing vocals to his signature acoustic guitar led songs. A great follow-up showcasing the growth of a talented songwriter.

Good On A Mixtape With: Damien Rice, Elliott Smith, Alexi Murdoch, Sufjan Stevens, Ray Lamontagne

Key Tracks: Phone, Your Daughter John, Let Go Lightly, I’m Still Sweet, Lawren Harris

Lawren Harris

I’m Still Sweet

Let Go Lightly

Alexander Fairchild is Nathan Finochio. A man of many hats (producer, writer, music-maker, youth pastor, baseball-lover), Nathan chose this moniker to represent his most recent songwriting project. The result is a self-titled record which covers quite a few musical directions. Never wanting to sound predictable, this collection touches sombre songs of love (‘Easier Than Breathing‘, ‘Very First Time‘), alt-country (‘Lady Of The Lake‘), honky-tonk gospel (‘Oh, Lord‘), many songs tied together with Finochio’s signature smooth, hushed vocals sung through warm reverb. Through this records rich sounds and lyrics, we think this stuff is what picture is meant to synch to.

Good On A Mixtape With: Patrick Watson, Fleet Foxes, The Middle East, Brett Dennen, Iron and Wine

Key Tracks: Very First Time, Not Gonna Argue, Easier Than Breathing

Very First Time

Post Box

Oh Lord

Alexander Fairchild – Not Gonna Argue from Brooks Reynolds on Vimeo.

Using keyboards, electronic tones, minimal drums and cello sounds to create this ‘slow build’ of an instrumental, ‘Stickers On Keys’ makes me feel like I’m sinking underwater in slow-motion.  Perhaps sounding more like score than song, no one matches Rebelski in his ability to paint a scene with sound.

Hands down the catchiest song in the catalogue we represent.  Handclaps, playful melodies, harmonies and a simple story about love.  Too bad this band isn’t around anymore.  We’ve had good luck with this song and others, they’re a band with tons of potential in tv and film we believe.

This is the perfect soundtrack to someone getting way too high.  Featuring whispering vocals sounding like your inner voice telling you ‘its under control’, Sinewave‘s Exploded Nodes trip-hops into a cresendo of fuzzy atmospherics, washing all over you.

Can’t help but think of summer with this track from Mardeen.  Inspired by the hit tv show Dexter, let this song make you move with its syncopated guitar lines, catchy melodies and a chorus with island flavour.  Anyone got a Vampire Weekend replacement song?  I think so.

Any time I put this song on I get shivers.  Channeling the rawer side of garage, UK’s The 1,2,3,4′s rock Same Old Road harder than any other.  Gritty guitars, heavy bass and commanding vocals from Caroline Thorp put this track right up there with The White Stripes, Band Of Skulls.

Epic is the word I use to describe what happens two minutes and fifty-two seconds into this builder from Montreal’s Black Diamond Bay.  Starting quiet with piano, soft harmonies and ethereal guitars nuances, the song (lead by the acoustic guitar) takes a turn for the intense, adding strings, heavier drums, and a choir as lead singer Pat Krief trades his mic for a guitar solo, travelling higher and higher up the guitar neck.  Inspiring.

Mercury

Hushed vocals, droning guitars, and sleepy drums.  This song was the first one I heard of Evan Voytas and always make me think of sun-washed summer days, taking it easy and thinking about the present and the moment I’m in.

Something about those drones.

The Yellow World of ’83

More on Evan Voytas

Back with her sixth solo album is Canadian chanteuse Lily Frost with Viridian Torch. Inspired by the landscape around her family home on Lake Huron, Viridian Torch delves into the spirituality and energy found in nature, drawing on its healing capability and raw power. Recorded in a downtown Toronto church with outstanding acoustics, these orchestral songs flow between sounds of the relaxing calm of the woods to the intensity of electrical storms. Since releasing 2006’s Cine-Magique, Lily was nominated for a Gemini award for her composing work (along with the theme song) to CBC’s Being Erica, has had two successful tours of France, released the Flights Of Fancy EP and an album of Billie Holiday covers called Lily Swings.

Mood/Feel: Thematic, Orchestral, Dramatic

Key Tracks: The City Seems So Far, Lullaby, Forest Fire

The City Seems So Far

Lullaby

Forest Fire

After hearing news that Beats For Beginners frontman Mike TV was starting a label, we knew he’d be able to pick some winners.  Bearsuit Publishing presents the first compilation album from this fresh new label, featuring music from The 1,2,3,4s (old school soul meets classic riffy rock), T.G. Elias (brooding and haunting singer/songwriter acoustic), Kid Machine (warm analogue synths meet electro breakbeat) and new music from Beats For Beginners (synthy electro-pop, psych pop).

Stream the entire compilation by clicking on the pop-out player.

Or click on the following images to launch e-cards for each artist.

Hopeful Monster isn’t just the colloquial term used in evolutionary biology to describe a rapid development of species on a macro level, its the moniker for eastern Canadian musician Jason Ball. Begining from studio experimentation in rural Nova Scotia, Jason has now made Toronto home for his sound of electronic flourished 60s piano-pop throwbacks and Zombies-style ditties. Currently playing as a five-piece line-up (featuring members of the Hylozoists and By Divine Right), Hopeful Monster is for ears missing Grandaddy‘s emotive melodies and bounce.

Genre: 60′s influence Pop, Space Pop.

Good On A Mixtape With: Grandaddy, Rentals, Zombies.

**Hopeful Monster’s self-titled is also available, request a copy.**

Alpha Disco

Air Highway

Uncivilized

Conjuring up images of late-era Siouxsie with a penchant for Mod, Girl + The Machine‘s music holds that delicate spot between atmospheric, eclectic and mind refreshing. Compared to artists like Bjork, Massive Attack, No Doubt, this Toronto band performs a music synergy of trance-pop, world and psychedelic rock. Not pigeon holed by one genre or sound, Hello Earth is a music journey with many surprises down the line. Formed by Chinese-Canadian Jackie Liew, Girl + The Machine‘s live act takes the rock spectacle to new heights: the band’s combination of synchronized lights and video, on stage costumes and multi-lingual vocals explains their rising popularity at such international events as Vietnam’s MAG Music Festival and Brazil’s No Capricho.

Genre: Alternative Rock, Trip Hop

Good On A Mixtape With: Portishead, No Doubt, Ladytron, Bjork.

Inside Outside

Dharma

We Take The Train

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