Badge Époque Ensemble/Respire
Badge Époque Ensemble
Self Help // Telephone Explosion
Recorded live in the months prior to the pandemic, the Toronto jazz-funk fusion group has followed up their 2019 self-titled debut album - longlisted for the 2020 Polaris Prize - with an even more cohesive, adventurous and pleasing collection of songs. Self Help provides a sense of comfort and allows for one to get out of the mind and back in the body. As Badge Époque Ensemble notes on their bandcamp page: “Remember, when you are listening to music, you are putting something in your body” and throughout the record, you’ll find your body reacting in the most beautiful ways. This album is equally rewarding as either a close listening experience spent appreciating all of its intricacies or as soothing background music to a relaxing night at home.
Badge Époque Ensemble consists of a number of established Toronto musicians, and was founded by Max Turnbull (formerly known as Slim Twig). Turnbull focuses on the keys (Fender Rhodes, Clavinet, Piano and Synth) and also writes the lyrics, while the other six musicians contribute drums, guitar, bass, flute, saxophone and percussion. A new addition to the band since their last album is musician Karen Ng. Cups N Cakes readers may recognize Ng most recently for her improvised saxophone on Witch Prophet’s 2020 album DNA Activation. When a band consists of talented musicians like these, it is certain that the music is going to be well-crafted and innovative.
Self Help begins with two upbeat, heartening songs: “Sing a Silent Gospel” and “Unity (It’s Up To You)”. The lyrics in these two songs are sharp and the vocalists dig into Turnball’s mystical words, bending and flowing with the band’s experimentation. On the opening track, guest vocalists Meg Remy (U.S. Girls) and Dorothea Paas compliment the instrumentals, at times sounding like another flute line. On “Unity” James Baley’s powerful voice takes centre stage and cuts into lines like: “Throwing a shadow is something that I’m forced to do / Given the light inside, we must allow that a body will block it some too” and “When will you stop dividing things? Separating each drop off the top of a wellspring. Water must pool, as a rule, before tasted. Or else the water is wasted.” These witty lyrics are alone impactful, but Baley adds extra zest to the words - running away with the oooh of “illusions”, turning “things” and “spring” into “thangs” and “sprang” and busting out a sustained high note before the band drops into an extended two minute mid-song jam.
Jennifer Castle (who recently released a Cups N Cakes Pick of The Week) joins the band on album standout: “Just Space for Light”. This track follows the fun and funky clavinet focused instrumental piece “The Sound Where My Head Was” and provides a (brief) moment of relief for the listener as it opens with a soft contemplative flute line. Castle gently floats through the first two and half minutes, giving major 70s vibes. But before the listener relaxes too much, a chime is struck and flautist Alia O’Brien tears things up - launching the song into a ferociously fun three minute section. The track resolves by returning to the soft opening melody, this time played on the Fender Rhodes.
Self Help closes with two opposing instrumental pieces: “Birds Fly Through Ancient Ruins” and “Extinct Commune” - the former is a ten minute psychedelic slow burning track that would fit perfectly on a soundtrack to Twin Peaks or a Tarantino film and the latter finds Turnbull alone at the piano for a restrained reflective piece. It won’t be a surprise if Badge Époque Ensemble is on the Polaris list again with this album and when live shows open up again, this band is not to be missed.
- Greg Torwalt
Respire
Black Line // Church Road Records
Toronto’s Respire have had a daringly unique sound from their inception in 2013. There are lots of genres you could justifiably associate with Respire, but no matter which genre you try to put them in, they will standout with their dynamic DIY dynamite! The band, like their sound, is very diverse! The Respire family consists of members who are non binary, POC, gay, queer, female, and first generation immigrants. I think this kind of diversity is important when it comes to widening underground scenes, with the goal of showing people DIY music is for everyone to enjoy, and everyone should feel safe and welcome in the scene! On top of that, two of the bands members are 2/3 of a Toronto based booking collective called “New Friends DIY”, who make a point to focus on inclusivity in their shows!
Respire’s newest release comes in the form of their second full length album, Black Line. The lyrical themes of this album seem quite cynical from first glance, touching on fascism, climate change, felling insignificant etc. However if you really dive into the lyrics throughout the album, you might find a message of hope in it all, or even better, an awakening call to push for a better tomorrow! I also think it’s worth mentioning that the songs were written before the hellish events of 2020 transpired. These themes are paired with an incredibly diverse collection of sounds, spanning from orchestral arrangements, shoegaze, black/death metal etc. These majestic sound waves are the result of 12 musicians putting their all into Black Line. There are other bands out there trying to achieve similar sonic diversity, but in my opinion, no one is doing it as good as Respire!
Black Line starts off pretty and slow with the short, orchestra driven “Blight” right before diving you right into rapid Black Metal riffs and howls with the dark and ghastly “Tempest.” Even on tracks like this, and the following song “Cicatrice” there are peaceful yet epic melodies encased within, proving yet again that Respire are anything but one trick ponies. The goosebumps continue with the entrancing “Lost Virtue” followed by another soothing orchestral track by the name of “Kindling.” My personal highlight of the record is track six, “Embers to End”. This song holds some of the heaviest moments on the record, and still has plenty of room for the classical beauty that Respire is known for. Track seven is a soothingly ambient black metal tune predominantly, but of course in Respire fashion, the song takes on much more than one genre per song. Black Line as a whole is an incredibly emotional listening experience, and “To Our Dead Friends” is in my opinion the most emotive and lyrically crushing song on the album. Last but certainly not least, “Catacombs II” finishes off the journey. From what I can see on the Bandcamp reviews of the album, this is the fan favorite, and for good reason! A beautifully haunting track that has a peaceful quality to it, a perfect summary of this masterpiece!
Black Line is an album that I would recommend to anyone who has an open mind and a deep appreciation for music, as it has so many selling points to reel people in with. It’s an album that you could have going while studying, but it’s best consumed by being fully immersed in its dark beauty! I can’t wait to hear more from the Respire family!
- Justin Olson
