Hélène Barbier, Noble Son, Dead Soft, and Gaspard Eden
Hélène Barbier - Panorama
It took me a few listens to truly understand why I was enamoured with Panorama, the latest release from Montreal’s Hélène Barbier. After one particularly deep listen, I realized the interplay between bass and guitar simply spoke to me. I didn’t notice it until I worked to notice it… kind of a weird statement but go with me here… I won’t even pretend to understand Chinese philosophy but I believe the idea of “Yin and Yang” is that two opposites are interconnected to create balance, thus making these opposites somewhat interdependent. The guitar and bass are Yin and Yang on this record. I keep getting lost in how they work together to craft such incredible melodies while being so different. Package that with Barbier’s cool chilled-out vocal delivery and I believe it’s her best work to date.
Noble Son - Make Peace
Vancouver’s Adam Kirschner musical project, Noble Son, left no emotional stone unturned on Make Peace. Ernest and charming while being heartbreaking all at the same time is a skill that Kirschner manages to embody on Noble Son’s first album in over five years. The songs have an ear-worm catchiness that make you feel warm and fuzzy but the lyrics are highly vulnerable and speak to a man who wants to find a soul mate. When you dive in to the themes of Make Peace, the desire for emotional connection is so heart wrenching that you’re left desperately want Kirschner find love.
Dead Soft - Annihilated // Late at Night
Continuing the theme of new releases we’ve been waiting a long time for… it’s now been over six years since Dead Soft dropped their incredible album Big Blue in our laps. That seems way too long ago! Thankfully, at the end of 2025, the Vancouver grunge-rock band finally came out of hibernation with a two song single that made us realize how much we missed them. I cannot get enough of these two tracks and their Dinosaur Jr. vibes. Luckily I have it on good authority that we won’t be waiting long for more from this essential Canadian indie-rock band.
Gaspard Eden - Crooked Lines
Quebec City’s Gaspard Eden is a name to keep on your radar. On his second album, Crooked Lines, he took a DIY approach with the help of a broken TASCAM 388. He taught himself electronics, he fixed the vintage mixer/reel-to-reel tape recorder and began capturing songs on the fly, not allowing himself to overthink his recordings. The results are eight gorgeous songs that channel early 60s psychedelic-pop and 2000s folk-forward Sufjan Stevens. These tunes feel warm and cozy, like being wrapped up in a blanket by the fireplace on a blistering winter night.
