“Traces To Nowhere” is out on 7″ vinyl, paired with the B-side “Sit Still” through Crikey! Records.
Tag Archive: Canada
[video] Each Other // Traces To Nowhere
[mp3] These Electric Lives // Wicked Game (Chris Isaak Cover)
![These Electric Lives [mp3] These Electric Lives // Wicked Game (Chris Isaak Cover)](http://tympanogram.com/files/These-Electric-Lives.jpg "These Electric Lives")
A quick trip around Hype Machine reveals no less than a dozen different artists covering Chris Isaak’s seminal “Wicked Game.” That doesn’t include Rochester’s own Old Tapes, who gave the track a nice gender twist on their EP from this past fall, and there are certainly more to be found that aren’t aggregated at the moment. Some might consider that proof of the homogenous nature of the indie rock scene, but I’d chalk it up to the fact that it’s a universally beloved and universally identifiable song.
Toronto’s These Electric Lives are the latest to cover the song, and easily the ones who sound most like Mr. Isaak when doing it – at least vocally. Mark Stanfield barely sounds like the singer we’ve come to know at the start of the track, singing in his lower registers for the first half of the song before putting his signature, soaring chutzpah into it. Working with Juno Award-nominated producer Joao Carvahlo at his new studio – Revolution Recording – in Toronto, the producer encouraged Stanfield to channel Isaak’s familiar moan and wail, and the result is one that does the original vocal justice.
Where the band parts ways with the original is in giving it their own dance-centric flair, lifting it out of the mire that it was created in and turning it into a song that makes the listener want to move, rather than finish that bottle of Jack they started on their couch.
It’s great to hear These Electric Lives back at it again. No word if this precedes a new EP or album, or if it’s simply a single unto itself, but regardless, it’s still nice to have something new from the guys. If you’re going to be in Toronto next week, you can catch the band playing at Canadian Music Week, with a showcase next Thursday, the 22nd at The Drake. There’s a quick promo video available for the show which features some quick footage of Mark recording his vocals, which is viewable below, along with an mp3 of the cover for repeat on your iPod.
Connect with These Electric Lives // Facebook | Twitter | web
These Electric Lives // Wicked Game (Chris Isaak Cover) [mp3]
[mp3] Cuff the Duke // The Diamond Sea (Sonic Youth Cover)
![[mp3] Cuff the Duke // The Diamond Sea (Sonic Youth Cover)](http://tympanogram.com/files/cuff-the-duke-in-our-time.jpeg "cuff the duke in our time")
I’m beside myself with joy right now. Sheer joy. Cuff the Duke is an amazing band from Toronto, and as is the case with too many great Canadian bands, they are quite often overlooked by American blogs. Cuff the Duke has released 5 albums since 2002, each increasingly better than the last. The most recent, Morning Comes, is the first part of a 2 part album, and was released in October of 2011. Produced by Blue Rodeo’s Greg Keelor, the album delivers all of their tuneful songwriting that finds the perfect balance of rock crunch and country twang, not to mention the soulful singing of Wayne Petti.
I would highly recommend checking out all of their albums, especially the newest one and their 2010 album Way Down Here (my pick that year for best album).
Their cover of Sonic Youth’s “Diamond Sea” has recently surfaced on Soundcloud, and I’m not exaggerating when I say that the results are simple stunning. The band manages to capture the affecting atmosphere of the famous Washing Machine closing track while sanding down the edges and making it all their own. They don’t change anything drastically, instead great care is taken to delicately insert their own unique sound while still managing to sound surprisingly like the original. You can listen to the track and download it below.
Connect with Cuff the Duke // web | Facebook | Myspace | Twitter
Cuff the Duke // Diamond Sea [mp3]
[mp3] Germany Germany // Disconnect feat. Steffaloo
![3585308216 1 [mp3] Germany Germany // Disconnect feat. Steffaloo](http://f0.bcbits.com/z/35/85/3585308216-1.jpg "[mp3] Germany Germany // Disconnect feat. Steffaloo")
After taking a couple of months off, Canadian electronica artist Drew Harris, a.k.a. Germany Germany, is back with a couple of new tracks. Partnering up with Toy Camera cohort Steph Thompson, a.k.a. Steffalo (who seems to be everywhere these days), the duo have created a song in “Disconnect” that is spring fresh – building into a release that is simultaneously uplifting and entrancing. This is due to Harris’s ability layer his synths over energetic beats, while Thompson’s breathy voice gives the melodies an atmospheric quality.
Essentially, it’s a song that consists of two movements, but Harris is able to crescendo at a perfect pace, seamlessly transitioning from trance to a house vibe. Builds and releases are typical elements in electronic music, but there are enough teases placed throughout the track that you would think the listener would reach a point of anxiety by the time the release hits. But the introductory pulsations are captivating, and when the pinnacle is eventually reached, there is a lingering feeling of relaxation. As energetic as the closing moments may be, this is euphoric track you get lost in.
To grab Germany Germany’s other track, “Departure,” on the two-song release, head over to his Bandcamp page where you can download it for free.
Connect with Germany Germany // web | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr
Germany Germany // Disconnect feat. Steffaloo [mp3] from Departure/Disconnect
[video] Grimes // Oblivion
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002: Old Tapes - Farewell/What I Need Tonite 7" -
001: Joywave - Ridge/Traveling At The Speed Of Light 7"
