Fitness, Jr. Gone Wild, and Blume
Fitness
Astare // Sad Cactus
Since their return with the anticipated second album, Full Well (2021), Edmonton sophomore angular post-punk band Fitness returns with the release of Astare which was released by Sad Cactus on November 5th, 2021. As a follow-up EP, Fitness’ approach to Astare vastly differed from earlier releases in attempt to streamline their compositions - though at first the backbone of the EP was built by members of the band when they lived together, the group aimed to focus on decision-making to quicken their creative turnaround in the fleshing out and recording of the release. The album was mixed by Fitness’ Devin Murphy-Hopp and mastered by Travis Thatcher, who was involved in Full Well’s engineering.
As a whole, Astare welcomes some key differences from its predecessors as the band’s distinct approach to disjointed time signatures and song structures gets shifted into a more consistent set of songs, which nonetheless captivate Fitness’ iconic sound. As is standard for Fitness, the conceptual basis of the album is evident with themes of sight, gaze, and reflections where the EP contends with self-image, the substantiality of personhood, and the dialectics of desire between self and others.
“Haircut” kicks off the EP with the melancholic wailing vocals that define Fitness’ sound. As the main riff gets contracted with the b-section and c-section, the harshest punky vocals and instrumental breaks in their song structure are highlighted. “The Colour in the Grass” is one of the main highlights for me, with twinkling guitar riffs channel sounds of emo and post-hardcore finding their way into post punk. The titular “Astare” is a more upbeat hypnotic track, bringing some of Fitness’ harshest instrumentals at its intervals. Meanwhile, the closing track “Desire” brings the energy down for a grooving subterranean song encapsulating the elusiveness of desire speculating its way around people as they are pulled towards and repulsed from each other.
All four tracks stripped down much of what makes Fitness an iconic band in contemporary post punk. The crisp instrumental production is able to work with the distinct ambiances and moods that comprise Fitness’ sound - although, I have yet another reservation with this Fitness release, and that is the inconsistency of the vocal mixing. In this instance, the vocal mixing highly varies from song to song, oftentimes drowning the vocals into the instrumental mix. This is apparent across the whole tracking, and while it may be an artistic choice, it detracts from both the lyrical focus and the instrumental.
Nevertheless, Astare showcases the finessed song-writing that they have polished over their last two releases and that it is now yielding way to a more streamlined creative process for the band. And despite these elements of productions, Astare sets the vision of what Fitness is going to be up to after their last full-length, which is certainly celebrated as the band is returning to do live performances.
- Simone A. Medina Polo
Jr. Gone Wild
Still Got The Jacket // Stony Plain Records
There is a very vibrant history of music in and around Edmonton, Alberta. I know everyone can say this about their city or town, but Edmonton truly did... and still does today. All sorts of unique styles to get down and mosh around to. Bands like SNFU and the smalls created new sounds among these unique genres of punk, thrash and jazz punk. But behold a new genre was born called…. Cow Punk. A sub genre of punk with some bad ass country elements, and that was done by none other than Jr. Gone Wild. Yeah you heard right. Remember them? A common household band name known around these parts for their versatility in sounds. A little bit of 1-2-fuck-you with a swing and a two-step is one of the many things that make them so stellar. I truly admire that versatility in their music. One thing I can say with certainty is that Still Got The Jacket by Jr. Gone Wild is one of the most anticipated releases in Edmonton this pandemic.
Alberta based since 1982. There is some debate about where they started. Was it Calgary or Edmonton? Either way, their Alberta roots run deep. Mike MacDonald, the original member has kept the band name up with a few line up changes and many many releases to date. This new style of punky country wasn’t about to go anywhere. It laid the foundation and inspiration for many artists down the line for years to come. Their sound the soundtrack to so many lives for its uplifting, real and relatable roots.
With many tours, and six previous releases they received an Alberta Recording Industry Award for Best Rock Band in 1994. After a hiatus Jr. Gone Wild came back for a reunion in 2013, and now the long anticipated new release that we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived and it couldn’t of arrived at a better time. The line up for this one... Mike MacDonald, Steve Lorree, Dave ‘Dove’ Brown and newest member Quinton Hebert (MacDonalds nephew). A tweak in the line up adding MacDonald’s nephew to take over on Drums due to loss of band member Larry Shelast who sadly passed away in 2019. Quinton Hebert may have had big shoes to fill but the shoes fit just fine... perfectly. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Hebert play He’s super skilled and has a unique style of his own. Without further adieu...here it is folks Jr. Gone Wild - Still Got The Jacket
The digital/CD release was on November 12th, 2021 but it will be released with Double Gatefold an LP to be released on March 11th, 2022.
Let this party begin with the track “Warren’s Van,” a feisty swingin’ number that will have you outta your seat dancing or tapping those toes at least. It’s the AdVANture you’ve been waiting for. Flying down the road, pulling over for a shot and who knows what other shenanigans they have in store. This Van is on fire probably from that stellar guitar solo is my guess. Once summer is back I’m totally gonna blast this one in my Van just for kicks! May the AdVANtures always be unforgettable and absolutely unbelievable!!
Van Life Forever!!!
“Fool’s Errands” was a fast favourite for me. I’m sure that you’ll appreciate this one too. It really encapsulates the Jr. Gone Wild you know, love and remember. MacDonald’s lyrical content always clever. He croons “fuck off at the sky” or is it “fuck off at this guy” I got a kick out the transition into the guitar solo. I chuckled for sometime over this. Then Lorree lays it down and makes that guitar sing so sweetly. Totally the classic country guitar stylings that make this song the ultimate song for a rough day, or the best two-step (or a six-step if you’re the fancy dancing kind). No matter what you’ll be cutting a rug to this one.
“Fly At Night” you may know. You should know. It’s like the “Free Bird” of Canadian Music. This classic Chilliwack cover could not have done better in my opinion. This one gave me goosebumps so that says something right off the bat. Everything sounding just as good as ever. All the right harmonies and solos are spot on. Bill Henderson, founding Chilliwack member, was featured on this track for his most memorable guitar riff and solo. You sure did a stellar job on this one guys! Standing ovation! I also want to mention they have a great a lyric video for this one. Lots of great footage from shows. I love to see those action shots on stage.
Jr. Gone Wild sure had their fans excited for this new release, and it will have you dancing in no time. Top notch then… Top notch now... Top notch always. Still the best road tripping, two stepping, fuck you kind of country there is, and ever was!
Be good to each other.
Love Always,
Green Noreen
Blume
In Reverse // Self-Released
Opening with a hazy guitar laden atmosphere before slowly forming together into a fully fledged dream-like jam is the newest album from Edmonton-based singer-songwriter Arthur Bennell under the moniker Blume. His previous album, Synthetic Sounds For The Modern Soul was one of the first albums I’d covered for Cups N Cakes, and it’s a pleasure to be able to dive into his music once more.
Production for this record began right after the release of Synthetic Sounds, recorded in Blume’s spare room in downtown Edmonton during the spring of 2021. The album’s title derives from many of the tracks forming from the use of reversed guitar loops. Considered as the spiritual successor to his previous album, In Reverse maintains Blume’s iconic hazy style of lofi, but this time around it has a bit more structure.
This album has two leading singles, “One More Time” and “New Dawn Rise '' – both released to tease the album throughout summer and autumn. The latter track is upbeat, catchy, and seeping with psychadelia. Blume’s style is as warm as the feeling of the air on a hot summer’s day – it’s full of positivity and intricate layers of reverberated instruments. On the other side is a track like “Heavy Trip”, which takes a hard hitting beat, a sinister bass line, and a frontier-esque guitar jam and forms a song reminiscent of its namesake – a heavy trip.
Silky smooth guitar riffs, droning soundscapes, and a passion for experimentation – Blume is the pusher of an auditory psilocybin – he uses his sound to take us dear audionauts on a journey to boldly go where no man has gone before. It’s a real trip of an experience listening to his music, and for those who enjoy the sunny days, the hazy highs, and the powerful lows, then In Reverse ought to be sent to your ears in an express package.
- Brandon Kruze
