Helena Deland, N NAO, Dual Nature, and Young Neighbours
Helena Deland - Altogether Unaccompanied, Vol. V
Female Canadian musicians are the current champions of the folk scene in this country and it’s not even close. Now, it’s safe to say that Helena Deland has earned her place in the conversation alongside names like Jennifer Castle or Myriam Gendron. In February she revived her Altogether Unaccompanied series with its fifth instalment. This has become a way for Deland to release songs that work best on their own and that don’t really fit alongside ones on an album. Vol. V is stunning, especially the sparse opening song, “Silver and Red”, which is a nature-forward narrative that’s sung with delicate, hushed vocals, gentle harmonies, acoustic guitar and a haunting tape hiss.
N NAO - Nouveau Langage
Montreal sound artist Naomie de Lorimier makes experimental art-pop under the name N NAO. On Nouveau Langage, her third album, de Lorimier examines themes of metaphysics, astronomy, ecology, love, and survival. This is done in a quiet tone and with some of the most approachable material in the N NAO discography. Experimentation with both electronics and acoustic sources is still the backbone of these ten tracks but a perfect equilibrium between avant-garde and pop is achieved on Nouveau Langage. This makes the record perfect for an engaging listen that will draw you in for further study.
Dual Nature - Content
Dual Nature are an Edmonton based noise-rock band who pack a wallop. Shrill, stabbing dual guitars and a frenetic rhythm section puts them in the wheelhouse of post-punk but this five-piece’s ability to use sonic dissonance to their advantage and vocalist Dezi DeHaan’s raw, shout-style are clear indicators of a noise-rock band. Wherever you think they land in the loud music spin of the wheel, one thing’s for sure… they’re heavy, they’re loud, and at times, they’re abrasive. The new three song EP, Content, is a break-neck charge ahead and a good reminder that Dual Nature are a force to be reckoned with.
Young Neighbours - Roman
Calgary’s Young Neighbours came onto our radar in 2020 with the release of the incredible album, Famous, but the project has been around much longer, having released numerous scores and soundtracks alongside more conventional “band” albums. The project is led by Eric Pauls who writes all lyrics and music. At the start of 2025, Young Neighbours released a three song EP called Roman that channels early 2000s indie rock that sometimes teetered into folk territories (ie: The Decemberists or Modest Mouse). These three songs are expertly executed and deserve a listen.
- Jeff MacCallum