KVMP, Bonnie Trash, Roach, and sunwell
KMVP - Past-life Regression
Nanaimo BC’s music community is undeniably incredible. Every time I listen to a great album that I discovered on the CITR or CFUV charts, I find out it’s from this tiny city directly east of Vancouver, across the Strait of Georgia. Perhaps it’s an affordability thing but it seems like Nanaimo is the epicentre for great experimental, noise, punk, and avantgarde music in Canada right now. The latest band to smack me upright is the punk project KMVP. The brainchild of Kristjanne Vosper, KMVP have been at it for a while now and their latest album, Past-life Regression, gathers a who’s who of the Nanaimo scene to craft one of the most exciting punk/noise-punk albums of the year so far.
Bonnie Trash - Mourning You
Mourning You opens with a perfectly eerie intro that blows open the door with an unruly homage to Seattle in the 90s. “Veil of Greed” is what you’d get if you blended Nirvana and Alice in Chains, it’s a perfect song for a person of my vintage. They follow it up with back to back tracks that have a radio readiness that I never thought I’d hear from this act, and I mean that in the best way possible. It’s the first time I thought this band could be a fit for a broader audience. Even on tracks like “Haunt Me” that have a slow sludgy sound, the vocal performance smooths over the edges and makes what is an atypical sound for popular music extremely approachable. It’s accessible sludgy, doom, goth-rock… I guess that’s a thing, kudos Bonnie Trash.
Roach - Everything or Nothing
Toronto band Roach have delivered a fantastic EP of emo influenced pop-rock that could easily make its way on the biggest festival stages around. It’s a sound that people eat up and it’s punctuated by incredible vocals that are charming and relatable. The EP opens with the summery vibes of “Everything or Nothing” which grabs you immediately, making it a perfect start. My ears perked right up and listened on until I got to “Alicia” which I actually had to replay when it finished. I love this track. The EP slows the tempo a tad for the next two tracks but you’re hooked by now and willing to listen on to discover Roach can turn things down just as well. A Breeders cover ends the EP the way a cherry would on a frosted cupcake.
sunwell - sunshine, etc.
Sunwell are a newer Montreal band that just delivered their second EP. The release is called sunshine, etc. and it’s a lovely five song foray into sun-soaked indie rock with light hazy undertones. It’s a welcome feel, like being halfway through the second pint on a brewery’s sunny patio. Warmth, a touch of body haze, and all around great vibes. From what I can tell, sunwell are a four-piece but songwriting credits all go to Ben and Carly. Thanks Ben and Carly! I’m excited to hear more.
- Jeff MacCallum