Tim Bruce Johnson, Pressure Pin, Mock Media, and ACCELERANT
Tim Bruce Johnson - Good Boy
Regina is a city that holds a special place in my heart. Through my years covering Canadian independent music, that small prairie city has consistently churned out incredible artists that are unknown outside of Saskatchewan simply due to their geographic location. Tim Bruce Johnson is one such artist. His new EP is a whimsical, heart-on-sleeve, alt-pop triumph. The tracks are piano forward with incredible layers of various keyboard sounds over simple rhythms. The guitar makes its only appearance as the main sound your ears are drawn to on the final track, otherwise, this EP is an incredible showcase of inventive interplay between different layers of keys. Aside from one spot where Johnson attempts a note he can’t hit (and then pokes fun at himself with the addition of an applause clip), his vocals are perfect for these songs. Slightly somber and subdued, he sings about moving forward and the difficulties that can come with change. This is an amazing EP that needs to be heard by more ears than a Regina act would typically get, have a listen.
Pressure Pin - Polyurethane
I recently caught up to the rest of the world and discovered The Bear. I crushed the three seasons over the last two weeks and as I was finishing that show, I started listening to the sophomore EP from Montreal’s Pressure Pin. The anxiety inducing chaos found throughout that series is an apt comparison to the intense cacophony of punk prowess found on Polyurethane. These four tracks border on insanity with the wild array of synthesized sounds that burst in and out of the high tempo, punk-rock song structure. But, unlike the most intense moments on The Bear, if you sit down and really listen attentively to this EP, things slow down and you can garner an appreciation for the wild choices that go into each track. This EP is extremely entertaining, utterly unique and makes Pressure Pin one of the most intriguing punk acts in Canada.
Mock Media - “Hooked”
“Hooked” is the latest single from Vernon raised, Vancouver based Mock Media. An elusive band to catch live in Canada but doing well in Europe. The band consists of members who have cut their teeth in some of Canada’s favourite post-punk “buzz” bands. Between the four members, their past projects include: Crack Cloud, N0V3L, Pottery, and Painted Fruits. Now they’ve come together with a post-punk take on reggae inspired punk, à la The Clash. Their newest single strays away from some of the notable comparisons (except for the Joe Strummer-esque vocal delivery) and opens with a repetitive verse that appears to be about addiction. The guitars play together subtly, offering some texture to the steadiness of the structure before the song explodes into a big finish. Keep an eye out for more from Mock Media as they recently got signed by MRL - Mac’s Record Label (that’s Mac as in, Mac DeMarco).
Accelerant - ACCELERANT
Accelerant has given us a high-octane, fuzz-filled debut that grabs you by the ears and screams into your face “LISTEN UP FUCKER!!!” This Toronto quartet draws influence from early 80s UK acts like The Jesus & Mary Chain, Primal Scream and Stone Roses. They take those iconic sounds then they turn up the noise rock dial past the “Sonic Youth” setting to the “Butthole Surfers” notch. This self-titled offering is a perfect blend of melody and dissonance, it’s exactly the type of record I obsess over... that is, familiar old sounds but twisted into a new context for our modern times. Let’s face it, our modern times are dying for noisy guitar music, the noisier the better and Accelerant has hit upon a formula that makes me salivate for more.
- Jeff MacCallum