Saxsyndrum, Cut Cult, Misc, and Witchrot
Saxsyndrum - Room of Endless Days
My goodness it has been too long since we last heard from Montreal’s Saxsyndrum. For the uninitiated, the name is a clue to what you’ll get… Saxophone, synths, and drums. Simple right? Well no… this band is anything but simple. They craft extremely rich tapestries of sonic brilliance that are blissful and cerebral. The pop-forward singles like “Hang On” or “Endless Days” offer the opportunity to warm up to their unique sound before exploring the true gems of the record like the adventurous eight and half minutes of “Day 1 Magic” or the brilliant krautrock closer “Beyond.” Room of Endless Days is more downtempo than they’ve been in the past as the album examines letting go of past trauma and opening up to a brighter future. One thing is clear, life is better when Saxsyndrum are creating music.
Cut Cult - First Three
Brian Borcherdt sits prominently in the pantheon of Canadian independent musicians. His work as a founding member of the kraut-dance act Holy Fuck has garnered him international acclaim while his solo project Dusted is one of Canada’s finest indie-rock secrets for music nerds like myself. You can image my surprise when it was announced that he was teaming up with Holy Fuck bassist Matt McQuaid, and original HF drummer Loel Campbell plus Mairi Chimabeul on harp for a project called Cut Cult. The debut three song EP is a masterful blend of Borcherdt’s two main projects and will perk up the ears of anyone who’s a fan of either project.
Misc - Beat Bouquet
Montreal’s Misc are the most exciting jazz-fusion band playing in Canada right now. They broke out in 2021 when their album Partager l'ambulance found its way onto campus charts for an extended period of time. Their latest offering, Beat Bouquet, blows that release outta the water! It turns down some of the jazz, opting for more experimental arrangements and making for an exciting listen that bobs and weaves, leaving the listener continually guessing. It’s skillfully composed and crafted with purpose, showcasing this trio’s burgeoning talent.
Witchrot - Soul Cellar
All hail Satan! Toronto’s Witchrot returns with a hazy, meandering infusion of doom drenched psychedelia. Soul Cellar cements Witchrot as one of Canada’s finest purveyors of sludgy stoner seductions with vocalist Lea Reto providing one of the bands secret weapons, a wail that is masterful yet not over-produced. There is nothing worse than listening to this genre and hearing a vocalist sing with pop-polish, Reto has a patina that lends itself perfectly to these seven tracks.
