Cola, Diamondtown, Ace of Wands, and Mort d'Homme
Cola - Cost of Living Adjustment
This self-titled album blends nostalgia and anxiety with a post-punk style of waiting for a someday that might never come. Cola, a Montreal-based band, explores uncertainty, escapism, and socialist themes through upbeat, angsty sounds and sports metaphors that ask when things will change. “Hedgesitting”, in particular, is going in my playlist: “Finding God in the Back of the Bus.”
Diamondtown - What We Always Were
With a dreamy fusion of shoegaze and a New Romantic-style gloom, this album feels ethereal, yet grounded at the same time. Perfectly encapsulating dream rock, the Nova Scotia-based band’s music has an atmospheric melancholy reminiscent of being “delulu” in young adulthood. What We Always Were feels like leftover longing for a life I haven’t lived. “Slide” is my favourite track so far.
Ace of Wands - Future Wave
In their third studio album, Toronto’s own Ace of Wands curates a captivating recipe to catharsis in this must-listen dream rock album. Future Wave is exciting, euphoric, and creates a sense of colourful, immersive yearning. Tinged with Kate Bush-esque orchestral yearning and Nirvana’s alt-rock fuzz, their songs are fresh and gritty with a side of art pop. My favourite tracks are the title track “Future Wave” and “Specter”.
Mort d'Homme - La Chute
Mort d’Homme is a Montreal-based all-girl band fusing garage rock with artpunk. Alexandra Cloutier’s percussive vocals are visceral, and they help propel the bands debut with an electric urgency, just in time for feral girl summer. I love all three of their tracks so far, and I’m super excited for more to come out down the road.
