Prism Shores, Hiroki Tanaka, lovelet, and MaSHeNKa
Prism Shores - Softest Attack
If it ever stops raining in Alberta and the sun comes out, I’m going to go on a nice walk through the river valley with the new Prism Shores record ringing in my ears. It’s catchy, it’s uptempo, the hooks are killer, and there’s an earthy quality to the tracks that makes me want to get outside. Softest Attack sees the Montreal band at their most collaborative with all four members writing songs and singing. They also sought out Scott “Monty” Munro to engineer the album and really allowed him to put his on stamp on the tracks. The outcome is jangly, fuzz-pop at its finest that demands repeated listens.
Hiroki Tanaka - Isan
Hiroki Tanaka, best known for his work as lead guitarist of YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN delivers a deeply personal record that explores his complex heritage as a descendant of Christian missionaries. As an atheist, Tanaka tackles the subject matter in a scholarly manner with each song based on a corresponding obscure hymn, composed by Japanese-Christians in the early 20th century. The subject matter is a deep dive on its own and it’s delivered with a multi-genre approach that includes nods to synth-pop, electronic ambient, psychedelic folk, progressive-rock, and even some garage-rock. The result is an impressive art-rock statement with deeply personal themes.
lovelet - Freedom River Float
The eight year wait for lovelet’s sophomore album saw Tim Biziaev, the brainchild of the project, bouncing between Edmonton, Calgary, and Montreal. The project exists as a collaborative effort among all the pals he’s made through his journey. The list is too long but includes some of my favourite Canadian musicians like Eliza Niemi and Chris Dadge. The record leans into alt-country, folk, and psych-pop territories with Biziaev’s superpower being his ability to craft delicate melodies that linger within one’s psyche long after they’re done. As a big fan of lovelet’s debut album, I’m greatly appreciative to have a second record to dive into.
MaSHeNKa - Dream Songs
MaSHeNKa is a brand new Montreal act that I stumbled upon while perusing the Canadian campus radio charts. Four songs make up this debut EP with the first track serving as a luscious intro. Ethereal, downtempo dream-pop with fuzzy electronic-ambient backdrops create the canvas for MaSHeNKa’s heavily reverbed vocals which convey a sensual sadness. This is as strong a debut as you’ll come across in the indie landscape and demands attention for those who love dreamy musical landscapes.
