Nomadic Homes/Boids/Ernesto Cervini
Nomadic Homes
Indecision // Independent
It’s funny, for some reason the best musical obsessions are the one’s you stumble upon by sheer luck. There must be something about discovering an incredible act on your own that makes it so gratifying. For a moment, the music is like a secret that nobody else knows about. Quickly though, that secret must be shared because if the music is really that good, the only prudent thing to do is share with your pals.
This is exactly how I stumbled into Nomadic Homes. I only learnt of this band because of a Facebook post from former Edmontonian Patrick Earles (Ominous Cloud). I get so many Facebook posts that the chance of seeing one pop up from a specific individual is very slim. Also, Patrick has incredible music taste so I immediately listened to Nomadic Homes’ debut album after seeing his recommendation. My obsession immediately grew and now there’s a need to pass along my secret, because that’s essentially the whole reason I started the Cups N Cakes Network.
The album is called Indecision and it’s one of the best psychedelic-pop records I’ve heard since the genre was being created in the 60’s. Fuzzy guitars with the perfect levels of reverb work together effortlessly. That being said, it’s hard to decide if the guitars or the rhythm section is the star of this release. The basslines, paired alongside the drums, create a groove that brings one’s soul to life. You’ll start to bob and sway, your pulse will quicken, but while your body reacts in such ways, your mind will begin to numb from the infectious hazy guitar work and soothing vocals. This record transports the listener to that perfect space; perhaps it’s a beach day, drifting in and out of consciousness, or maybe it’s a midnight drive in silence with the events of an exciting evening fresh on the mind. No matter where these sounds transport you, the sure thing is that it’s a fond destination. Indecision is a vacation from the mind, hit play, soak it in, and let your troubles melt away.
- Jeff MacCallum
Boids
Quel Drag // Stomp Records
Spin this… or pogo it… or whatever the cool kids are doing these days. Let's also trust the smart ones to keep their phones in their pocket. This ripper helps shake the grip of a long winter.
Montreal's Boids are back with their latest release on Stomp Records. As self-proclaimed, punk-rock, nerd-wierdos, they've created a fun one. It is tasty, worthy, pop-punk full of hooks and licks. All killer, no filler. I definitely stole that from somewhere.
Bounce to the the garage pop of "Modern Art". Sing along to "Night Night". Practice your use of Francophone frenglish on "Bike thief". Revel in Boids clever twisting of pop-punk conventions on "Stains" and "Shrink-Wrap".
Quel Drag is recommended for fans of double harmonies, double-time basslines, smart simple lyrics, and having fun. The production cannot get in the way of simple songs done well. Boids are having fun. As am I.
I'll never grow up. I hope you don't either.
- Drew Cox
Ernesto Cervini
Tetrahedron // Anzic Records
The match strikes, gas is drawn, and a blue flame ignites on the burner. Chef Malo does a little shuffle down the stocked prep aisle. Sous chef Matt splashes a little olio into the pan, and hits it with that Boston garlic. He hops back from the flambé, and more pepper (rimshot!) is knocked in to the fry pan. Cliff lays the linguine into the pot with a figure 8 motion, bending at the hips to ease the sticks into the broth. Pop! Juke! Snoot!” Malo’s booming voice cuts above the sizzle- “Calm down fellas, we can’t burn the turmeric tonight!” “Too bad,” yells Eric, the ever-indigent third man, “this recipe calls for burnt turmeric!”
Oh, the faces of patrons that swing through the door at Vantage Lounge to swim in candlelight and Provence vintages. Friday nights, the Secretary of State himself couldn’t get a table. Sergio Georgina had to wait in line (albeit, he demanded a seat, and a brisk (brusque) apology from the hostess, an MIT graduate who turned down a job with the friggin’ Clinton foundation- yeah, it was awkward). I’m telling ya, look around at some of the patrons, you’d never know who was here deciding your future over $500 reds. “Plating is divine Chad!” “Marvellous!” “Ding ding!” “Bon appetit!”
The couple at table six haven’t seen each other in years. Old lovers; she was pregnant at one point but ended it before leaving to San Fransisco. He shows her pics of his newborn child. “This is Evan,” he says.
Looks like Mike Hasselneck- of Air Transat fame- has had a few too many cocktails, and his sizeable frame is struggling to stay upright for his Tinder date. She suffers through it with measured bites of her salmon.
The canard confit is served to a pair of stiff-backed late forty-somethings- both in light grey form fitting merino t-shirt that show off gym sculpted muscles. The sightly more ripped one turns to the waitress and says, “which one is the croque-nouveau?”
The crown is placed on the night’s piece de resistance- a Japanese soufflé pancake topped with apples caramelized in Echiré butter and Indian Muscovado sugar before the tart is baked. It’s subject to availability, and guess what? It’s available.
- JD Ormond
