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Black Walls - Acedia
Maybe it's the summertime that's making me fall in love with this folk record, but the new release "Acedia" by Black Walls has been making me press repeat over and over again. The moody singer-songwriter Ken Reaume is able to pull off an 808 in a folk record like it's no big deal.
Move the fuck over, Bon Iver... Black Walls keep it real. From start to finish, the entire record has a haunting sense of abandonment and unresolved matters in the most simple delivery. Occasionally looping his guitar on tracks like "Pines", Reaume surrounds any listener with light etheric flare and dubbed vocals in stereo to make you feel on the edge of your seat. I think I love this man. Polyphasic's Brandon Hocura has impecable production skills that are key to making this record a success. On top of that, James Flames (Zola Jesus, Blank Dogs) has mastered Acedia to curate a shiny, well balanced finish.
I almost gave up on folk music, swear to god. I thought it was the end.
Then you made me fall in love with you, Ken Reaume. Yes, I will sleep with you.
FINAL MARK: A+
Psychemagik – Healin’ Feelin’
Psychemagik’s Healin’ Feelin’, a series of re-edits of songs, delivers a thumping four on the floor groove experience throughout its 10-track playlist. The album is heavily influenced by funk and disco music. It’s the kind of thing you would expect to hear at an after party or maybe just as easily while lounging around enjoying a few summertime cocktails. The aesthetics added to these re-interpretations are fun and playful.
The first track, “Ass Nation”, clearly sets the tone for the album. Funk elements heavily influence the groove, the drums and bass keep steady while the guitar lick and flanger-like effects orientate and steer the ship funkwards. The filtered noise, lyrics and trumpet accompaniment are the accoutrement that fills out the song.
“Make It Mellow” follows with a punchy almost disjointed bass-line strutting its way through the void. The flowing vocals and echoing synth sounds make you feel as though you’re floating on a sonic wave.
When listening to “Runnin’ Pt. 2”, close your eyes, like me I bet you can almost see a young John Travolta strutting away to this disco track. The waves of electronic noise wet the ears, which ensure you’re showering in the shimmering light of that nu-disco ball.
“Upskirt” is a soulfully sung blues number. The slow-paced vocals nicely juxtapose the motoring bass line, slightly distorted guitar licks and whooshing sounds that surround it. I even think there are some keytar elements present, which is gold.
Coming near the end of the album “Aldeia De Ogum”, a Joyce Moreno number, is a nice change of pace with its vocal scat, bossa nova and lounge feel. Having the bass drum pulse pushed forwards really helps drive this song. There’s also a pleasant sax solo that’ll delight the senses, it’s a nice way to come down given the energy of the album.
There’s always room for music to be fun and for me that’s what Healin’ Feelin’ tries to deliver. And while I found elements of this album drag, it’s still a jaunt worth taking.
FINAL MARK: B
Samantha "Sam I Am" Hinds on Da Cypha
When she isn't winning waacking dance battles, local songstress Samantha "Sam I Am" Hinds is making music. A powerful, soulful voice that stands out in a crowd, Samantha has been making tracks for sometime now. She recently released three singles on her bandcamp iamsam.bandcamp.com as a teaser for... well tune in on Da Cypha, Tuesday August 14th for what comes next.
Phantastiq Cypha Tuesdays from 6 - 8pm on CJLO 1690AM | Bell FibeTV CH950 | iTunes - College Radio
August 10th, 2012
Read by: Hannah Besseau
Stories by: Alyssa Tremblay, Danny Aubry and Carlo Spiridigliozzi
Produced by: Carlo Spiridigliozzi and Alyssa Tremblay
New Concordia president does CBC radio interview
Concordia's new president Dr. Alan Shepard made an appearance on CBC radio's Daybreak morning show on Friday.
Dr. Shepard just recently began his presidential mandate on August 1st.
Prior to coming to Montreal, he served as provost and vice-president at Ryerson University in Toronto.
Shepard's introduction to the Concordia community hasn't been smooth.
In April, a small group of student protesters interrupted Shepard's first public speaking event at Concordia. The meeting was cancelled after protesters refused to stop making noise.
Concordia's fall semester begins on September 5th, the day after provincial elections.
Concordia student competes in London Olympics
Concordia student and Stingers wrestler David Tremblay made his Olympic debut in London on Friday.
Tremblay is an undergraduate student in Concordia's department of Applied Human Sciences.
He lost his opening match 1-0, 1-1 against Turkish wrestler Ahmet Peker.
According to CTV news, Tremblay is out of contention for a bronze medal.
Inmates speak out against crime bill
Inmates at Ontario provincial jails have expressed outrage that the federal government si enacting the first measures of Bill C-10.
According to rabble.ca the measures were enacted one day before Prisoners' Justice Day. Inmates claim that the bill will make prisons more crowded and the prison system less about justice than it is now.
Provincial jails in Ontario don't have the functional protections for human rights the federal ones do. Close to seventy percent of Ontario provincial inmates aren't convicts but those waiting for bail or deportation.
Inmates go on a 24-hour hunger strike to honour Prisoners' Justice Day. This also commemorates an inmate who died from inhumane conditions in 1974.
Flickr Photo by: my_southborough
Drought has major impact on North America
The area in the U.S. suffering from record drought increased slightly over the past week.
In a report by CBC News, the record breaking heat and drought continues in the Southern and central United States.
The drought is very sporatic in Canada though. Southwest Manitoba and the area west of Ottawa have been unseasonably dry.
The impact on agriculture and food varies from the drought. What crops have increased in prices and Livestock have been impacted. However, rice and cotton seem to be in excellent condition.
The eastern half of the U.S. midwest did get some relief from the dry conditions. Another week of rain has led to steadily improving conditions.
Flickr Photo by: Schilling 2
Nadeau-Dubois's departure from CLASSE
Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, the co-spokesperson of the most agressive Quebec student association called CLASSE has decided to resign.
According to CBC News Nadeau-Dubois has stated that it's time for CLASSE to be run by a fresh face.
He has also announced that he has no intention of running for leader of any political party.
He has adivised the striking students to not be discouraged by his resignation and has encouraged them to continue striking.
Charest gives $100 to schoolchildren
Quebec Liberal premier Jean Charest switched the focus of his campaign from jobs to education, on Monday.
The Gazette says he promised a hundred dollars for every child in public primary school to help families buy school supplies.
He said the forty-five million dollar assistance will ease the financial pressure of back-to-school season.
The premier also said he would double the budget to forty million from twenty million for the Homework Assistance Program in Elementary School.
The aim of this boost, said Charest, is to help students pass exams by providing them with the right methodologies for studying.
At the morning news conference, Charest deflected questions about a new Léger Marketing poll that shows seventy per cent of Quebecers feel the ruling Liberals are corrupt.
A week into his campaign, Charest said he was suspicious of the polls, and did not mention new plans to fight collusion in the construction industry.
He did however take advantage of a stop in Lac Mégantic to launch fresh attacks on Pauline Marois.
He was also shifty about the candidacy of Jacques Duchesneau for the Coalition Avenir Quebec party.
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