Christopher Sleightholm, Cosmic Club, Kali Horse, and keening
Christopher Sleightholm - Still Summer
Regina’s Christopher Sleightholm (the driving force behind the impeccable psych band Snake River), delivers a sun soaked, nostalgic trip into the past to reflect on the moments that contributed to who we are today. Sleightholm solidifies this theme with a sonic offering inspired from the AM oldies station but modernized into the prairie-psych he’s become known for. Whether Sleightholm is exploring classic psychedelic-pop or old school twang, Still Summer looks back with fond memories that will warm your heart.
Cosmic Club - COSMIC CLUB 2
Montreal’s Chance Hutchison (PRIORS, Private Lives) drops a two-track effort for his solo project, Cosmic Club. “Telephone Booth” opens with deep bass tones, a driving electronic drum beat, and lightly sung vocals. There’s an urgency behind the sparse intro telegraphing the fuzzed out guitar blast explosion about to erupt. Every element in this track is set up to champion that blissful blitz from the guitar, it rules. The B-Side is exactly as it should be, a little calmer but every bit as catchy. This tiny offering has me hooked, I want more!
Kali Horse - 2099
2099 opens with massive beats and sleazy synths that make this avant-pop banger sound slightly industrial. Just as you get acquainted with the vibes, Kali Horse shifts completely on the next track to give us an urgent post-punk rocker. Then we get “In Blue”, a track that smashes all the sounds you’ve heard so far… then the stuff you took an hour ago kicks in. The titular track is a monster, an all consuming beast of noise-rock, industrial, nu-metal, and art-punk. It stands firmly out in what is a stand out EP.
keening - you are so small and the world is so big
The debut release from Toronto’s keening is a three track tour-de-force. There’s a heavy dose of post-hardcore and a tiny pinch of post-rock all baked in to make a screamo lasagna. Like the layers in that iconic Italian dish, keening cook layers into each of the three songs on you are so small and the world is so big. The release keeps surprising as you go back for another bite. I’m particularly enamoured with the tiny moments of post-rock reprieve with spoken word lyrics à la Slint’s Spiderland. This is a great debut, keep keening on your radar.
