Sargeant X Comrade, Eine Kleine China, and VIBES!
Sargeant X Comrade
The Elephant in the Room // Mo’ Gravy Records
The Elephant in the Room by Sargeant X Comrade is exemplary in its mix of new and old, in terms of style, vocals, and samples. The emotion evoked throughout the entire album is one of familiarity, along with an exciting new feeling mixed in.
The more simplistic style of the beats allows for more focus on the incredibly written bars in every song. This album’s music is pretty slow-paced which allows you to savour all the fresh lines coming at you. All of this is without mentioning how well-suited all the featured artists on the tracks are, all of the singing voices in the entirety of The Elephant in the Room feel unique and separate from one another, allowing for a clear distinction between each song. This album isn’t groundbreaking or reinventing the wheel, but it doesn’t try to either, The Elephant in the Room is a fresh new album with a very distinct vintage style that lends itself well to the Sargeant X Comrade’s singing and writing style. It's short too so I could see myself listening to this album 2 or 3 times in a row.
My personal favourite track is “Secret Song.” I’m a sucker for distorted tv noises worked into music, especially when the beat apparates out of those noises. The groove and funk of Sargeant X Comrade is most present in this song, it is the song that needs to be boogied to, with its drum, horn, and piano. I also adore Gift of Gabe’s absolutely rippin’ bars at the beginning, it is so perfectly melded with the music, masterfully done. The production quality of this album is also very impressive, extremely crisp and clear all throughout.
This album lives up to its name, it is a showstopper and should be discussed soon after it is listened to.
- Kaden Peaslee
Eine Kleine China
Prince Tshushinkogyo // Boat Dreams From The Hill
Calgary-based electronic producer Charles Gunn has been releasing music under the moniker Eine Kleine China since 2017. His work is heavily inspired by Boards of Canada, Squarepusher, and Autechre. He utilizes his prowess in the digital realm to produce awe inspiring instrumental tracks that take an experimental approach to the electronic genre.
His newest release, Prince Tshushinkogyo, is no exception. This ten part masterpiece is an album with a production as fascinating as the sound it presents. It was recorded a single song at a time while Gunn practiced meditation on the side. This allows for a layered and intricate listening experience, with each track having its own individual sound. Although I would describe the album as experimental EDM, its nuance and vast array of sound makes it much harder to pinpoint.
The album can carry us through a fast paced, lighter sound, such as in the opening track “Bent Fabric”, before dropping us into a heavy guitar-laden ballad like the titular track “Prince Tsushinkogyo”, which also pays tribute to a friend of Gunn’s who had passed away. His eclectic use of samples and fidgety beats alongside his guitar makes the listeners mind wander and fit the song's sounds to their experiences to form their individual interpretations of the album.
With the album's cover depicting a groovy piece of art featuring what appears to be shattered CD’s, this holds true to the album's sound – fragments of sources and sounds that stretch the plane of time and come together to form something new and extraordinary. But then again, Charles Gunn said it himself, “I think this album is for headphones – background music for long walks... It's digital escapism from a time where the general mood was tense and uncertain. I hope listeners will enjoy the ride.”
- Brandon Kruze
VIBES!
Baseball Bat To The World’s End // Self Released
When I think of Edmonton hardcore, I can’t think of a purer example than VIBES!, who have been cranking out posi-core tunes since 2014. With every release, you can hear their sound improve, and their most recent album, Baseball Bat To The World’s End is the steepest incline of improvement yet! A lot of the growth is thanks to the recording process and the team behind it at Physics Lab, who took the time to really nail every part of the record, and that is very apparent when you jam it all the way through. The drums sound crisp and hit hard, the guitars and bass flow phenomenally together, and the vocals are mixed perfectly.
VIBES! is fronted by Mattie Cuvilier, who plays in Chairman, and has put on over 300 shows in Edmonton under Clean Up Your Acts Productions. Behind the kit is Dylan Mackay of Edmonton speedsters Malicious Intent! On guitar and backing vocals we have Jordan Belanger and John Potter, and Bass and backing vocals is held down by Justin Thomas. Baseball Bat To The World’s End features three amazing guest spots from integral members of the Edmonton punk and hardcore space! Kitrina Brodhecker of Chairman lays down chilling screams on “Twist In The Wind”, Jeremy Hex (former VIBES! member) kills it on the electric “Grudge Match”, and Edmonton punk legend John Kennedy of E Town Beatdown crushes “Run The Risk”!
Although VIBES! and their new album certainly fall under the expansive umbrella of “Positive Hardcore”, that doesn't mean all the songs are sunshine and rainbows. Alot of the songs on this album deal with serious and dark topics, but always in a constructive way, and encourages the listener to make positive changes for them and their surrounding environment. The best example of this to me is the lyrics in “It Only Takes Once”, a song about the harsh realities of drug addiction in their city, and the disgusting neglect that is shown. But the dark message is countered by a call to show compassion for your fellow people no matter what addiction may plague them, and even tells you where to find free naloxone should you ever need it to save a life. Every song on this record has a solid message and I strongly suggest giving the lyrics a read while listening.
The album opener, “Champions Blood” is a huge highlight for me. This is the ultimate Edmonton Hardcore anthem, and a hometown crowd is sure to storm the stage for the chant vocals when they play it live. “Twist In The Wind” really stuck out to me too, the riffs are so mosh heavy throughout, and Kitrinas part is a perfectly pummeling ending to the track! “Grudge Match” is another one of my favourites of the album, this one comes out the gate hot! Its a nice touch having Jeremy Hex on for a guest spot, and Mattie's vocal pattern at the 30 second mark sounds bad ass, and the breath control is truly impressive!
In my opinion, this is the best album that has come out of Edmonton in a long time, and it most definitely has a high ranking in my albums of the year for 2022, even if it is only February! I was lucky enough to catch VIBES!’ record release show for Baseball Bat To The World’s End, and the energy they brought to that small room was almost unfathomable! If VIBES! plays a show near you, do not rob yourself of the opportunity to catch their set!
- Justin Olson
