Sir Quilt, C. Ross, and The Moröns
Sir Quilt
Whispers from a Waterbed // Self-Released
Summer is rolling along nicely, with plenty of great summer releases. This time we’ve got the new release from Edmonton’s Sir Quilt. Whispers from a Waterbed dropped on July 13th and plays host to a layered sound and excellent melodies. This newest album from Sir Quilt features a softer approach than some previous efforts. Check out their previous work, The Badlands of Jupiter and Insults at the Elbow Room. When discussing Whispers from a Waterbed, members Brad and Jeff noted that the songs that should be the simplest to complete often take the longest. These songs can add additional weight to a recording process and hinder creativity. Sir Quilt felt more confident in abandoning these songs to focus on new material and always working from a clean slate. In this way, Sir Quilt can keep the recording process fresh, something evident from songs present on Whispers from a Waterbed.
The song "Silhouette" has a tremendous easy-going flow and encourages the listener to follow along on the songs journey. Sir Quilt members Brad and Jeff describe the making of this track as “transporting fragile glass on an unpaved road.” Due to the “vulnerability and weightlessness,” the music evokes and really stuck out to this reviewer for its continuity and consistency throughout. The songwriting on this song seemed especially mature to the point that "Silhouette" sticks out amongst the rest of the album. It was also the last song to be added to the record, foreshadowing sounds we might be able to expect on forthcoming releases.
Sir Quilt approaches songwriting with a fixed core track before adding more layers and gimmicks while using limited effects before exporting to a computer for final mixing/mastering. This technique gives them a unique sound. As part of dialling into the specific Sir Quilt sound, the songs on Whispers from a Waterbed have bounced around, transferred between the analog realm and two or three computers to create a hybrid feel.
Overall the new release from Sir Quilt is a great mellow summer album that anyone interested in layered folk-influenced music will enjoy.
- James Cuvilier
C. Ross
Skull Creator // Echodelick Records
Before you read, go ahead and scroll down real quick and hit play on the track down there. I’m serious; I’m not starting until you do. Alright, you’re listening? Good. Now tell me that isn’t awesome. Gushing aside, let’s talk about C. Ross.
You may recognize his name as Chad Ross, frontman on Toronto-based psychedelic rock band Comet Control. He’s also the singer of Quest for Fire, a member of The Deadly Snakes, and making acoustic tunes under the moniker Nordic Nomadic. Turns out that when he’s not making kickass rock music with his bands he’s, well, still making kickass rock music.
Skull Creator is his newest effort, and inside this wonderful release are eight tracks that still hold that feeling of psychedelic rock with its own mellow flavor. From the first song, “Buzzin in the Bush, '' we get Ross’ grungey vocal delivery with a bit of lyrical storytelling of a camping trip.
Speaking of camping and rustic aesthetics, a few tracks on Skull Creator carry an acoustic sound with it, such as “Taking a Dip”, which is carried by the strums of an acoustic guitar before it becomes consumed by an ensemble of instruments.
The titular track is met at the halfway point of the album and delivers the album's heaviest moments, featuring overdriven guitar and themes of death. Other themes of Skull Creator are the cold, the wilderness, and despair.
Featuring the help from many talented friends, C. Ross creates a rustic psychedelic album that feels like the folk music of today, still keeping in touch with a time thought lost long ago. This is shown best in the album's final moments, as a western-y sounding guitar riff is phased out by an electric fuzz. It’s an amazing blend of the old and new while containing some absolutely bone chilling lyrics.
- Brandon Kruze
The Moröns
The Book of Morön // Self-Released
Dearly beloved..I mean...We are gathered here today...still wrong... Ladies and gentleman of the court...wrong again!
I better get it right before they throw the book at me! The Book of Morön that is.
The Book of Morön is the latest offering from Calgary’s gnarliest party punks The Morön’s. The guys most likely to say something inappropriate at Grandma’s house are back with another rad album full of fun party favourites, shenanigans, and some genuine solid gold heart, and dancing. Yes there will be dancing and it will be glorious!
Before we begin let’s have a history lesson.
The Moröns are from the depths of Calgary, Alberta...which they like to call Hick City. They’ve been rocking out and crashing parties since their demo EP in 2017. 2021 brought their first full album Today’s Special and that one definitely got heavy spinning on many turntables. Last February they dropped the most wicked punk cover of Enya’s Orinoco Flow. Now The Moröns bless us with The Book of Morön on July the 12th of 2022. It’s jam packed with nostalgia, open bars, hockey and Pilsner. I know your already like ya this my kind of party! Even if you don’t drink you you’ll still be getting a buzz off this one! So open your hearts, your minds and get ready to grind!
The track “Southwood” packs the punch with a nice thick bass intro. The cymbals chime and crash bringing in the squelching distortion of the guitar and heavy steady drums. “Southwood” brings you back home to the neighbourhood that you grew up in. The corner store you used to go to. The parks you used to play in. The streets you used to ride your bike down with your buddies. The day you moved and how much much it hurt. The memories that flood in when you take a drive past your old childhood home. Where you went to school. The vocals at the end are sang with real emotion. I feel this song. It hits my heart and hits home on so many levels. Though we all grew up on different streets in different cities or towns, the memories and how they hit your heart is something we can all relate too.
The Moröns really know how to breathe some life into the good old hits and this one will definitely make you dance. They add some extra spice and hot sauce to Whitney Houston’s I Want To Dance With Somebody. I seriously can not wait to see them play this one live! And guys...good job on this one. Some ladies really love to dance.
When a whole album is this deadly it’s so hard to narrow it down. Open Bar let’s you reminisce about corporate parties. You know the ones with an open bar. I remember one in particular that was so wild it was the last one the company ever threw. Good times good times. Get your fill while your company still throws a party! On the Pil and Old Timer songs that pair perfectly together for hanging out with your buddies, getting back to the beer many began with. Either way Pilsner and Hockey...really need I say more? Old Timers league where the guys still get out and have a good time. Not everyone made the NHL but the guys still be having some fun!
Crash and Burn was a fast favourite song on the whole album for its lyrical content and its delivery, the metal intro, and the slow break down near the end with that serious Sylvester Stallone speech and then they kick it back into high gear. Lyrics like, “I ain’t going down with out a fight. I ain’t gonna crash and burn tonight!” When I listened to the album on release day I was out for a walk and this song had some impact and had me feeling like Rocky.
The Book of Morön is just as stellar as their first release and hits all the key points and good memory receptors. It’s got it all! Your summer soundtrack just got more rad with The Book of Morön by the The Moröns. It’s the sizzler of the summer!
Be good to each other!
Love Always,
Green Noreen
