THE PLAYLIST
Dylan Hudecki, aka The Dill, is a Canadian indie-rock vet having played in many different bands, including By Divine Right, Cowlick and Junior Blue. He’s a proud Hamiltonian and happy to cover local album releases for HAMILTON CITY Magazine.
Jon McKiel – Hex
Sometimes an album comes along that you can’t place. You can’t put it in a category or explain it easily to people. It falls into the “indie” realm, but is it folk? Is it rock? Is it weird? Is it from the future?
It’s Jon McKiel’s Hex. Made in the quiet, unassuming, far from hip, cool or trend-setting Sackville, N.B., the album of pseudo-vintage, hypnotic loops, disorienting charm, nostalgia, hipsterdom, and human connection fight each other with marshmallow boxing gloves in front of the taco truck. I can’t recommend it higher and that’s why I’ve included it here even though it’s not local. Stand-out tracks: “Hex”, “String”, “Under Burden”, “Concrete Sea.”
RIYL: Panda Bear, Portishead, Chad VanGaalen, Animal Collective, Tame Impala
Colour Film – Half An Hour
Colour Film, (aka Matthew de Zoete) has released a new album, Half An Hour, which was recorded following the onset of the pandemic and de Zoete recovering from a very serious electrical injury.
Half An Hour embraces a quiet, melancholy tone. The album is a gentle exploration of the self and ego and subtle beauty. It’s surrounded by a soothing atmosphere with delicate instrumentation and crystal-clear poignant vocals and it encapsulates the 10-song release. The inward-looking quality sets a reflective mood that persists throughout the album.
These songs exemplify Colour Film’s ability to convey deep emotion through minimalist arrangements and gentle production and it certainly creates a fireplace listening experience. It’s a subtle yet powerful listen that resonates deeply, and Kori Pop’s accompanying voice throughout almost every song is a nice touch.
The production is crisp and polished, yet maintains an organic feel that complements the band’s emotive performance. de Zoete says, “releasing Half An Hour now is kind of a re-birth for me, and the music still feels fresh and alive.” Overall, Half an Hour is a beautifully crafted album that highlights Colour Film’s ability to spin tales and evoke profound emotion with a soft, contemplative touch. Ending with the Haunting “Ghost Town” with tremolo guitar and pedal steel is a fitting closure to this newest album in his growing and maturing discography.
RIYL: Donovan Woods, Bright Eyes, Blue Rodeo, Justin Rutledge
Tom Wilson and Thompson Wilson – TEHOHÁHAKE For Exhibit
If there was ever a father and son Canadian dream team, it’d be Tom Wilson and Thompson Wilson.
What we come to expect from these gritty, road-worn songbirds (songcrows) is deep, emotive, cathartic alt-folk and a healthy dose of good ol’ Hamilton R&R. With this release, it is not too much of a musical departure if you know them personally. They show a flip of the script and create 46 minutes and 53 seconds of continuous music (on vinyl, 18 songs if you’re streaming). TEHOHÁHAKE For Exhibit is the first release of a series of ambient meditative music from the father and son collaboration, and it’s an accompanying soundtrack to Tom Wilson's recent art gallery exhibit.
They’ve made really compelling and mature ambient music, emerging from the city that gave birth to the genre (Brian Eno – look it up yourself). It was all created by Tom and Thompson Wilson, with only a bit of help on pedal steel by fellow Hamiltonian Aaron Goldstein. A Tom Wilson project without his big burly deep voice takes some adjusting to, but you do hear it tastefully placed in the background from time to time. I didn’t know what I was expecting this album to be, and not much to my surprise, it’s fu&%ing good.
RIYL: Brian Eno (Music for Airports), Daniel Lanois (Belladonna), Neil Young (Dead Man Soundtrack)
Superstar Crush – Crushed to Meet You
These young upstarts from Dundas have the gusto, motivation and energy of four toddlers with full bags of half-eaten Halloween candy, and what’s adorable is that they are sharing it and the sugar rush is working!
Crushed to Meet You is a three-song single, a vibrant exploration of pop and rock that bursts with energy and charisma, full of catchy hooks and a great rhythm section. Tracks like “Venus in the Drywall” and “Tru Blu” showcase the band’s ability to blend upbeat melodies with clever lyrics. The production is very lo-fi DIY and scrappy, but that is part of the reckless charm of the band and the album itself. One thing is for certain, they aren’t afraid to go for it. The album’s high energy and memorable choruses make it a fun, engaging listen. Overall, Superstar Crush is a lively, enjoyable debut that shines with infectious charm.
The future is bright with these new kids on the block. Get your Crush on!
RIYL: Razorlight, Franz Ferdinand, Talking Heads, Blondie
