All reviews by canonical

Kobza - S/T Kobza - S/T

Unfortunately waxidermy lacks the right character set so the title is obviously wrong. This is a Canadian pressing of a Ukranian folk/psych album, however all the information is written in Ukranian so there’s not much I can say. I’ll simply quote a recent ebay description:
“GREAT MAGIC SOUND RECORD!!!!!!”
The music is all over the place, from […]

Lee Gagnon - Jeremie Lee Gagnon - Jeremie

Jeremie was a Quebecois ballet scored by Lee Gagnon. It is a known and sought-after jazz-funk album with plenty of wha-wha and breaks (nobody ever seems to mention the nice mellow folk parts on the album though). However, I’m not here to talk about this record (even though it is, in itself, kind of interesting). […]

Liberty Union - Get Love In Liberty Union - Get Love In

I think the best way to describe this is “family orientated xian psych from Edmonton, Alberta.” The album is interesting because the 12-member group obviously has some talent but seriously lacks in direction. Almost every song has potential: great drumming, organs, multiple male and female vocals, slow jams and fast jams. However, every song either […]

Lightdreams - Islands in Space Lightdreams - Islands in Space

I was listening to this album hardcore at the same time I started reading William Gibson’s Neuromancer. They seemed to compliment each other well, each depicted a world in space so daring and different. Paul Marcano, the mind behind Lightdreams, dedicates the album to the colonization of space and this really sets the tone […]

Lost John Lyle and the Lonesome Ornery Polecasts - Bootleg Powerhead Lost John Lyle and the Lonesome Ornery Polecasts - Bootleg Powerhead

This private from 1971 has quickly become my most listened to record of the summer, despite finding it as late as August. Housed in a blank sleeve with hand-written labels, it’s no wonder this artifact of the early singer songwriter scene in B.C., Canada remained unknown until its recent rediscovery. I have found it difficult […]

Marr'Del - The Mystery of Love Marr’Del - The Mystery of Love

Beautifully sparse and poetic album by this mysterious Ohio native, Marr’Del. The songs blend between spoken word poetry and singing with only the company of her guitar, harp, and sometimes the rain. Amazingly Marr’Del had no formal musical training, which really enhances the personal element of the album.
There is so much more I want to […]

Mechanical Servants - Min X Match Mechanical Servants - Min X Match

This was given to me in a blind trade and quickly became my favorite of the batch sent. Incredibly fun and beautiful, Mechanical Servants bring a refreshing simplicity to the post-punk/new-wave genre. Consisting simply of two females, Pamela Kifer (lead vocalist) and Victoria Harper, a guitar, a bass, a synthesizer and a typerwriter.
The songwriting is […]

Om Shanti - We Are Home Om Shanti - We Are Home

In life we have all been moving
Towards love as our centre blooming
Let’s dance to that loving feeling
Let’s dance with our hearts revealing
Those four phrases circulate the back-side of the cover on this private spiritual folk album headed by Oman Deal and Shanti Ess Rae, released in 1977 on the Solace Records label. There are 6 […]

Pesnyary - Belarussian Pop Music Pesnyary - Belarussian Pop Music

According to my math professor (who acted as translator), Pesnyary were a popular Belarussian pop/folk group. Upon further researching, this album, released in 1978, was an attempt to blend Belarussian folk music with the 10-years-too-late emerging pop/psych/garage scene in the USSR. While many will find it difficult to get over the singing, I think there […]

PITCH - Our House PITCH - Our House

P.I.T.C.H. (People In The Crowd Harmonists) and S.P.I.C.E. (Spreading Peace In Crowds Everywhere) were a group of about 256 Christians from St. Albert, Alberta. From what I know, this group put out three albums, two with the same cover (Spice - Choice Selections has the same cover, pictured above) and one simply called The Magic […]

Rhythm & Blues All-Stars - Live At No. 5 Rhythm & Blues All-Stars - Live At No. 5

The Rhythm & Blues All-Stars were a R&B/Soul cover band from Vancouver, Canada. This album, obviously live, features nice covers of Soul Man and In The Midnight Hour, and has a great 8 minute outro. However, the real gem on this album aren’t the songs but this “Guido” character they got to do a comedic […]

Richard Espino - A Place For God's Son Richard Espino - A Place For God’s Son

Richard gives me the “no” feeling. Yet, his face is so mesmerizing.

Richard Powell - Memories Of GlenIvy Richard Powell - Memories Of GlenIvy

Here’s a great unrestrained real-people hotel-lounge/AOR banger that has probably remained unknown on account of its misleading cover (or I just have terrible taste, which I’m not going to rule out). Richard Powell pens side one himself and leaves side two for covers (Stevie Wonder, Feelings, Get Down Tonight, etc). Side One is the obvious […]

Roger Rodier - Upon Velveatur Roger Rodier - Upon Velveatur

I had high hopes for this record when I finally found a copy, and upon first needle-drop I was slightly disappointed. I just wasn’t ready. He was so gentle. So dreamy. I found myself tip-toeing around my apartment, worried I might shatter this fragile vibe issuing out my speakers, leaking into my apartment building, and […]

Scottie Pete Gang - Rapper's De Feet b/w Rapper's De Feet Scottie Pete Gang - Rapper’s De Feet b/w Rapper’s De Feet

I don’t actually own this 45 but I wish I did. I borrowed it from my friend to post on here and for an up-coming radio show I’m doing. The Scottie Pete Gang consisted of some radio DJs at CKOC in Hamilton, Ontario. I have no idea if they are fans of rap or not, […]

Signals From Outer Space Signals From Outer Space

This came as a present from a friend and the physicist in me went ape-sh*t. This is a 45 themed around recordings from Sputnik, the first satelite to make it into space (launched from the former U.S.S.R. in 1957). Side one is a recording of the data being sent from Sputnik while in space. Lots […]

Tangerine - De l'autre cote de la foret... Tangerine - De l’autre cote de la foret…

Tangerine’s first album from 1972 is the full package. From the beautiful cover art to the long-haired pose on the back, you know you are getting something great. And they deliver. One of the few albums that I can say stood up to its cover. Well instrumented psychedelic folk with the tiniest hints of their […]

The Chandra Dimension (unreleased) EP The Chandra Dimension (unreleased) EP

I refused to believe it was true until Chandra sent me a copy of the master tapes. An unreleased Chandra EP? This time with full teenage backing band and production from Steve Alexander and Eugenie Diserio of The Dance? After Chandra released her Transportation EP she formed a band consisting of herself (who at that time […]

The Dance - Dance For Your Dinner The Dance - Dance For Your Dinner

Finally got a copy of The Dance’s debut EP on GoGo record, 1980. Musically the EP is very much an early 80s post-punk/no-wave record leaning towards disco. The shining song on the EP is definitely the funky Do Dada. The title song, Dance For Your Dinner, sounds to me like some sort of proto-underground-rap with […]

The Dance - In Lust The Dance - In Lust

Owing to the response from my review of The Dance’s second album, Soul Force, I thought I’d post up their first album In Lust. This album is much more disco than Soul Force, however it still contains the approach to song-writing that made Soul Force so great. While Euginie sounds just as sexy, it is […]

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