Motorists, Men I Trust, and Badge Epoch
Motorists
Surrounded // We Are TIme/Bobo Integral/Debt Offensive
Sounding like Sloan’s Chris Murphy fronting Krautrock stalwarts Neu, the debut album - Surrounded - by Toronto power trio Motorists, poses the tantalizing supposition of what might have emerged had the aforementioned Canadian power-poppers been let loose in 1970’s Berlin. Replete with sugary harmonies laid over a driving motorik beat, it’s a straight-ahead, economic record full of artful and accessible songs that never overstay their welcome.
There’s plenty of cosmicism to be found here as well, mid-album sidetracks “Through to You” and “New Day” containing elements of sunshine psych and post-punk freakout atmospherics, respectively, without ever deviating from the very direct aesthetic that unifies the album.There’s actually a surprising amount of sonic texture to please the ear here, despite the tightly crafted unity of vision, and one can’t help but be impressed by the band’s display of tasteful restraint in crafting the aesthetic of the record.
It’s actually a breath of fresh air to encounter an album that is less concerned with ambition than it is with craft. One gets the impression that Motorists aren’t as occupied with presenting a grand opus as they are with putting out a tight, solid effort, something that moves relentlessly along and could easily get stuck on repeat in your car stereo.
Calgary music fans will be especially stoked, as Motorists represent a return to collaboration between drummer Jesse Locke (Simply Saucer, Tough Age, Chandra) and guitarist Craig Fahner (Leather Jacuzzi), formerly two of the architects behind the sound of Sudden Infant Dance Syndrome, a band that fairly burned up the Calgary all-ages music scene in the early 00’s. It’s great to see them playing together again, and following on the heels of Fahner’s previous collaboration with SIDS’ Sarah Ford in Leather Jacuzzi, Surrounded could potentially be considered the crowning salvo in a ten plus year dynasty of great projects from these artists. The album is out now on Jesse Locke’s new label We Are Time, co-founded with Chandra Oppenheim, of legendary NYC post-punk group The Dance, and it’s fair to expect a lot of great stuff from the label in the future if the strength of this release is any indication.
- Shaun Lee
Men I Trust
Untourable Album // Self Released
“I bear / The past / My heirs / I owe” are some of the opening lyrics from “Organon”, the first track of the newest album from Montreal-based indie trio, Men I Trust, entitled Untourable Album. A chill blend of minimal electronics and downtempo indie music, Untourable Album is a 13 track journey from mellow tunes, soft vocals, and lyrics that explore poetic and romantic territory.
Released on digital, cassette, compact disc, and vinyl, Men I Trust manipulates their slower paced electronic sound to grip the hearts of us digital natives, born in an age where technology and electronics surrounded us. This empathy is found not just through their lo-fi sound, but in their lyrics, such as name dropping Hyrule Field in the fourth track, “Sorbitol”.
Despite being titled Untourable Album, Men I Trust is going on a North American tour to promote the album’s release, playing in Montreal from September 16 – 18, Vancouver on October 9, and Toronto on November 4 & 5. Between those days they’ll be spreading some of Canada’s best indie music to our southern neighbours. Seething with jealousy, I am.
Another thing I really appreciate about this release is the decision to release it digitally under a “name your price” category, so if you haven’t the facilities to play vinyl, or you’re too broke to afford a CD, you’re still given the opportunity to have full access to some awesome music. In a time where even a digital release can cost upwards to ten dollars, this is a kind gesture to enjoyers of the musical arts, and this is beautiful to see, especially from a group as established as Men I Trust.
Made with heart and soul, a great album for your heart and ears alike, Untourable Album is a record that you really ought to listen to. Close your eyes and get lost in the music! Seriously, I’m trying to help you here. Check it out, you’ll thank yourself.
- Brandon Kruze
Badge Epoch
Scroll // Telephone Explosion
Devout cratedigger and Torontonian experimental drifter Max Turnbull has had his hands in all sorts of work around his native Toronto Before compiling his song writing efforts under the name Badge Epoch. The psych-jazz group throws caution to the wind as they dive deep into the depths of their musical intuition across 90 sprawling minutes of jazz rock freedom in Scroll.
Turnbull calls it “a cosmic hodge podge of funk, jazz, ambient techno, aggressive guitarmonized rawk, musique concrète, and hip hop” - which is a much better genre salad than I could ever cook up in a review, let alone put to music. Despite its length and breadth, Scroll feels episodic and digestible. Seemingly split into four parts (4 sides of an LP), we are served with 4 sliders that make up a pretty big meal when eaten in one sitting.
Some sides may sit with you better than others, but each will certainly suit a different mood, regardless of which you prefer. What these movements lack in common mood, none of them lack in groove or exploration. Interspersed are moments of freedom, both in production and instrumentation. Whether it be flashes of unfettered flute or jilted, experimental electronics, Badge Epoch is not afraid to wade into unknown waters with confidence and liberty.
Amongst the liberty of experimentation and improvisation are stalwart grooves that will have you bopping along with them as they effortlessly ooze tone through each strike of the snare and slap of the string. At times it seems like they lose the plot between the grooves, but they return so reliably with the ease of the groove that they earn enough trust to take us off the deep end from time to time. You’ll never quite get lost on a trip with Badge Epoch, but they will take you on some wild detours.
Altogether, it’s hard to articulate what makes this album so great. Instead, I’ll just tell you to go listen, because it's goddamn fantastic. It goes all sorts of places, but never fails to entice, excite, and enchant. From free form solos to funky basslines, flashes of electronics to experimental exploration, you’ll never quite know where you’re headed, but you’ll always know you’re in for an adventure on a ride with Badge Epoch.
- Clay Geddert
