In this generation of carbon-copied sounds, where many an artist wallows around in a pool of similar-sounding artists, it’s exciting to witness a musician develop a signature sound and top the charts with it.

Skrillex, or Sonny Moore, has managed to use a number of influences—from Aphex Twin to Marilyn Manson—to create a controversial musical formula. There are possibly as many Skrillex haters as there are fans, but the same can be said for a lot of really good bands. For some reason, people seem to really love Skrillex, or really, really hate him.

Bangarang, Skrillex’s fourth EP, still borrows from Moore’s library of signature sounds—creepy chipmunk vocals, grinding bass, and huge dub step drops. Ellie Goulding, 12th Planet, Kill the Noise, and yes, The Doors are all featured on the album, though they’re all barely recognizable. Skrillex has a knack for taking vocals and melodies, and shredding them to create a more distorted song that sounds as if it’s ripped on nearly too many energy drinks. Bangarang is definitely going to be club-friendly.

“Breakin’ a Sweat,” featuring bits by The Doors, including Jim Morrison’s electronic music prophecy, is one of the better tracks on the album. The song builds, then drops where you’d expect it to, and blows “Light My Fire” out with some skinny white-kid swagger.

“Bangarang” may feel a little nostalgic to fans of the film Hook. The title was the battle cry of the lost boys. The song aims to appeal to 1980s children, ending with, “Hey-yo, I’m eating Fun Dip right now.” Those were the days, right? It’s a light song, with heavy sound that will have kids shaking to the ground.

One track sounded out-of-place, and was surprising considering that it was a collaboration with 12th Planet and Kill the Noise. “Right on Time,” with its overused synths and relentless beat, sounds fit for a high-school rave.

Whether you like it or not, Bangarang is a tight, well-produced album. The tracks jump around a little from trance to dub step, all with a heavy hand of glitch, but they all carry Skrillex’s signature sound. With a solid tour schedule, and artists lining up to be remixed by him, Moore has a bright future in the next generation of music.

Nero, comprising Joe Ray and Daniel Stephens, has been charging the dance scene since their first single “Innocence” in 2010. While the duo has been mixing for about seven years now, the past two years have been especially productive for them. Mixing tracks by everyone from La Roux to N.E.R.D to Beyonce, the UK boys have shown they know exactly what modern clubbers want.

Nero started out in mainstream trance and dance sound, and has graduated to the trendy world of drum ‘n’ bass and dub step. While some of their tracks lean to one genre or another, it’s really their combination that sets them apart. One excellent example is the track “Promises,” which plays between drum ‘n’ bass, then switches into heavy undulating bass.

Nero’s success may also lie in the diva talent of Alana Watson. She’s not an official member of the band, but delivers vocals for the majority of Nero’s songs and performs live with them.

The band recently did a tour of the United States and Canada to celebrate the album Welcome Reality, which was released in August of 2011. While some shows had rave reviews, the performance at Club 9one9 was a bit lacklustre for the price of the ticket—$45. Understandably it’s hard for someone spinning on the decks, mixing tracks, and drinking beer to put up much of a performance. A DJ’s music has to speak for itself. But when you pay well above the average ticket price for a well above average dance music producer you expect a little extra. Perhaps a larger venue with a better layout and sound system would have provided this.

Regardless of this one experience, Nero’s laying down some of the best dub step tracks right now, and this is something they deserve full adulation for. The “Feel So Close” Calvin Harris remix, and especially “Promises” featuring Alana tracks are must-listens for any dub step fans.

Dub step is a trendy genre right now, which is arguably both a good and bad thing. As it becomes more commercialized, ticket prices will increase and shows will get bigger. On the upside, the popularity of the genre will support the number of fiercely amazing producers managing to constantly find new and exciting ways to twist and wobble sounds. Nero will be great if they consider only touring with the full band, including Alana, and if they keep pouring out tracks like the ones out now they’ll be around for a long time.

Austra’s debut album Feel it Break, which came out in May this year, is a dark take on synthy-pop music with haunting and austere vocals combined with punchy drums, deep bass, and glittering synthesizers. The highlight of the album is singer/songwriter Katie Stelmanis, an opera-trained vocalist with distinction and range. Her voice is definitely the fingerprint of this band.

Austra, which used be the punk band Galaxy, also features the talents of drummer Maya Postepski and bassist Dorian Wolf. The band enlisted the mixing expertise of Canadian sound engineer Damian Taylor (Bjork, UNKLE, the Prodigy) to produce Feel it Break, an album with serious popularity potential.

The most recognizable song on the album, “The Beat and the Pulse” has stirred the interest of CBC Radio 3, among many music fans. The catchy bass and synth underline Stelmanis haunting vocals. “Lose It” is one of the more upbeat-sounding tracks featuring Stelmanis opera range, and needs to be on a snowboard or ski video somewhere—it would sound great.

Watch out for Austra in 2012. If the stars align right they’re sure to making festival appearances across Canada. For now, plug into Feel it Break and enjoy.

With the mercury dropping outside, there’s no better time to snuggle up in front of the fire and spend more time listening to new music!

Kamloops quintet Blackdog Blue has been pleasing Kamloops crowds for six years now, and with the release of a new album, titled 3, they’re set to keep on going.

The band, comprising Dennis Hayes, Renea Denis, Corey Yamaoka, Darrell Hanna, and Uli Scheck, celebrated the album’s release this fall at The Blue Grotto. While 3 has stuck close to Blackdog Blue’s roots, it features a more contemporary sound, and production polish.

“When we first started out we had a blues, classic rock format,” says Hayes, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for Blackdog Blue. “As a songwriter I wanted to become more contemporary—you’ll see more of an evolution in songwriting.”

3 touches on sounds reminiscent of The Allman Brothers, and even Elton John. It’s a versatile album with a number of excellent songs, especially appealing to a classic rock or blues-rock audience.

Recorded for the most part at Perry’s Recording Studio in Kamloops, Blackdog Blue went to Small World Studios to finish production, and gain insight from leading Kamloops musicians/producers Henry Small and Kris Ruston.

A lot of work went into the building of 3, with Hayes spending a couple hundred hours writing, arranging, and developing the songs before heading to the studio. While he can’t pick a particular favourite on the album, Hayes explains there are a few that have special meaning for him.

“I think my songs are like my kids, I like them all for different reasons,” he says. “I have my political rants in songs like, “‘Burn it Down,’ ‘Talk About Love,’ lyrically, has a strong message for empowerment of women, and ‘Give Me Strength’ was written for my wife’s birthday.”

Blackdog Blue has been a Kamloops favourite for many years. They bring a lot of talent and energy to their performances and their fan base in Kamloops is growing steadily. Their Music in the Park closing performance drew approximately 1,500 people, and Hayes says the band can barely keep up with show requests.

“We’re almost at the point where we’re turning down as many gigs as we’re getting,” he says.

The album does an excellent job of combining contemporary sound, and excellent lyrics with lead vocalist Denis’s bluesy singing. It’s a great listen!

Music Diva

The snow is here, you’ve had a few turns and it’s time to get into the full swing of winter fun at Sun Peaks. Resort life is all about a work-play balance, with an emphasis on play, and there’s no better night out than at a local hip hop show!

Kamloops MC Auk—Austin Ingram—is bringing hip hop to Club Mackdaddys on Dec. 16. The Velocirap-Tour, featuring Rushden and Diamonds, KutMasta Kurt and DJ Weezl, is one of many MC Auk is throwing around the Interior in the next month. He says it’s finally time he organized his own events.

“I’ve been doing this for a while, but just recently started promoting,” Ingram says about his progression from MCing to organizing. “I thought, ‘I should be doing this myself.’”

MC Auk has been regularly hosting events at Pogues Mahones in Kamloops, and the Sturgis North Pub in Salmon Arm. Sun Peaks is a new venue that MC Auk is very excited about.

“I’m getting a tour going, and want to hit up some ski hills,” he says.

One wouldn’t normally associate Kamloops with hip hop, but it’s a genre that’s becoming more popular in the desert city, according to MC Auk.

“It’s been more on the underground,” he says, “But it seems like people have started getting more into hip hop lately.”

He says it hasn’t been easy getting local shows going, as most nightclubs aren’t interested in hosting hip hop shows, because of the negative things they associate with the genre. MC Auk says there’s a different mentality that comes with hip hop.

“It’s different than the metal community, because in hip hop there’s no band, there’s no team mentality. There’s a lot of ego.”

The Velocirap-Tour unfortunately doesn’t feature Kamloops hip hop. The artists performing are quite well-known, and will be a good inspiration for the potential in hip hop here.

Rushden and Diamonds is a comical hip hop group from Vancouver. Their debut album 2010 came out last September.

KutMasta Kurt is an American producer well-known for his “Enth E Nd” Linkin Park remix featured on the 2002 album Reanimation. He’s also done work with Kool Keith and Masters of Illusion.

DJ Weezl hails from Edmonton and has some mad scratch skills. He’s toured all over and has also done work with Kool Keith.

The Blackalicious show at Club Mackdaddys in 2009 was amazing, so hopefully this show will draw an equally lively crowd. Cover for the Dec. 16 show is $5—it could be the best $5 you ever spent.

The past few years have brought on a Canadian folk revival, and there are many bright stars coming out of the works. Amy Cunningham’s one of them, and her new album To the Stars We’ll Return is brilliant.
Cunningham’s knack for music is in her genes. Her grandfather used to sit in for Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash when they played in Toronto, and Cunningham herself started singing at a young age, taking up guitar when she was 14, performing in a college band, and more recently, opening for Craig Cardiff and Sam Roberts.

To listen to Cunningham’s music today, you’d think she was born on the West Coast of Canada. Her music frequently recalls oceanic metaphors, and the songs share a lot of West Coast sentiments.

To the Stars We’ll Return is Cunningham’s debut album, and she’s currently promoting it on the road. Cunningham’s putting it all out there—the album’s a search of the self and the struggle to be present, with undertones of environmental sustainability issues and travelling.

This folk album has a touch of country and soul added to the mix. “Take me Away” has a beautiful instrumental accompaniment to Cunningham’s voice, which reminds the listener a bit of Jewel, with a touch of Dixie Chicks twang, but sounding exactly like neither. “We are the Ones” is an upbeat-sounding song with lyrics that seem influenced by the Dalai Lama, “may you understand your diving plan/ may your heart be full right where you are.” The song will be featured in an upcoming documentary, Community Connections, by British Columbian filmmaker Chris Carter.

Cunningham performed in Kamloops and Ontario this fall, and will play in Nashville, Tenn. before performing in Hakuba, Japan. It seems like word’s caught on—watch out for this bright star.

Who says you can’t party outdoors in November?

Kamloops is about to host the Decentralized Dance Party (DDP) Tues., Nov. 8, and it’s all business—and bananas.

What is a DDP? It’s an outdoor flash mob dance event featuring a van-load of boom boxes tuned to the same station, broadcasting genre-spanning dance tunes. Why should you get involved? Do you really have anything better to do on a Tuesday night in November in Kamloops? Most importantly, it’s a lot of fun and a great way to stave off the pre-winter blues. The event is free.

Tom and Gary, known only on a first-name basis, are the founders of DDP. They started the parties in 2010—and one of the best known DDPs was held during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, where over 10,000 people got together in costumes to dance and celebrate.

So far, Tom and Gary have thrown events in major cities all across Canada. The 2011 Strictly Business Tour has made its appearance in Calgary and Victoria, and, as long as fundraising meets the group’s expense requirements, the tour will continue to the end of 2011.

Currently, DDP is having difficulties with Facebook, which is affecting its exposure. Gary explains that their entire roster of event listings was erased when Tom and Gary tried to change their group name from “Tom and Gary’s Dynamic Dance Party Delivery Service” to “Tom and Gary’s Decentralized Dance Party”. As such, no one can view event posts, which Gary says affects their fundraising efforts.

“They (Facebook) deleted the events for this tour and the American tour,” he says. “This is trouble for our fundraising, because all the URL links are broken.”

The team, which also includes the Elite Banana Task Force, a group of friends dressed in banana suits that help with the radio transmission during the events, and, as Gary says, “Keep an eye on things,” is also currently seeking sponsors to help promote and fund the tours.

It does sound a bit crazy—a dance party in the middle of the city, with no formal security, has worried police and city officials. But to date, the parties have been safe; no major incidences reported. The parties are for all-ages, and the focus is on lowering inhibitions, dancing, listening to music, and having a great time. Drugs and alcohol are not condoned. As the DDP website claims, “People drink a lot at most parties because most parties are boring and drinking is therefore necessary to loosen up and have fun.”

While DDP events end at 11 p.m., in accordance with city noise laws, they look anything but boring. Gary points out that he believes the dance music they play has a lot to do with the atmosphere at each event.
“It’s been a crazy social experiment,” he says. “We play just upbeat music; if we started playing heavy metal it would be a different environment.”

Should life have to be so serious? On Nov. 8 exchange your laptops and textbooks for business attire—DDPs current theme—and join in on Canada’s party revolution.

Little Hell is a daring leap into vulnerable songwriting and Dallas Green, the well-known member of Canadian post-hardcore band Alexisonfire, has come out triumphant. The album describes many of the “little hells” that we go through day by day, from night terrors to family issues.

This album sounds a lot more polished than the previous Sometimes and Bring Me Your Love and Alexisonfire fans will be happy to hear some heavier, bluesy—and even a touch country—sounds on Little Hell. At 30 years old, Green has finally written some cliché-free songs that really dig deep. Perhaps this album was written as self-therapy.

Arguably the best track on Little Hell is “O’ Sister”, a story about Green’s sister’s decline into mental illness and his inability to help her, “My sister/What made you fall from grace?/I’m sorry that I was not there to catch you”. Vocally this is probably the best sounding track as well, with Green’s unmistakable voice soaring above his great acoustic guitar work.

“Fragile Bird” is a song about his wife Leah Miller’s struggle with night terrors. Miller is a former VJ for MuchMusic and current host of So You Think You Can Dance Canada.

The stark contrast between the heaviness of Alexisonfire and City and Colour shows Green’s versatility and offers an alternate light for this talented Canadian musician. Alexisonfire fans will love “Weightless”, while those who fell for his last two albums will love “Silver and Gold”. Regardless of your track choice this album is a huge step up from the last two and will likely offer solace to many of those struggling with similar issues. As Green sings on “Hope For Now”, “What if I could sing just one song and it might save somebody’s life?” Good on him.

It’s hard to say at this point whether change for the Red Hot Chili Peppers (RHCP) is good or bad. The absence of John Frusciante in the Chili’s new release I’m With You is obvious and unfortunate. However, newcomer Josh Klinghoffer seems like a breath of fresh air that could bring something new and exciting to the band. Only time will tell.

According to interviews, guitarist and vocalist Frusciante left RHCP back in 2009 in order to pursue other musical interests. Frusciante recorded and toured with RHCP for about 15 years, and was crucial to the writing of popular albums Blood Sugar Sex Magik and Californication. He left a big guitar-sized hole in RHCP that’s hard to fill.

Klinghoffer doesn’t necessarily fill Frusciante’s shoes; he replaces the soles and polishes the scuffs. I’m With You clearly misses Frusciante’s sound, but Klinghoffer brings a subtler, softer sound to the album. It sounds like the Chili Peppers all grown up.

Klinghoffer actually used to play with Frusciante, and toured with RHCP during part of Stadium Arcadium. He seems the most natural fit for this family-tight band.

As a huge fan of RHCP I’ve watched them play live three times—once with The Mars Volta, another band Frusciante has played with—and I really look forward to seeing what the live performance is like with a different guitarist.

As far as album sales are concerned, RHCP has their well-established name to thank, and the fact that no other popular bands sound like them. Their first album release “The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie” reached number one on Billboard Alternative Songs chart, their 12th number one song. An international tour is on right now, and will be followed by a tour of the United States and Australia in 2012—no word on Canada yet.

I’m With You stays true to RCHP’s funk-rock sound, and there are a few really great tracks on the album such as “Ethiopia”, “Brendan’s Death Song”, and “Police Station” that sound like true RHCP. “Monarchy of Roses” features Flea’s fantastic bass lines, and lead singer Anthony Kiedis’s way with words lay poetry to most of the lyrics. After a five year album writing hiatus—the last release was double-disk Stadium Arcadium in 2006—this jump back to the spotlight seems very successful. But John will be missed.

The guys have grown up, and their lyrics are more mature but in songs like “Factory of Faith” a flailing Anthony Kiedis and acrobatic Flea still have the energy that catapulted RHCP to fame back in the late 1980’s, early 1990’s. While I’m With You lacks an “Under the Bridge” or a “Californication” the album stands strong and is a good entry for Klinghoffer. There is some sound-experimenting that could use exploration in order for Klinghoffer to stand out in this band of stars.

For now, have a listen and make your own opinion of I’m With You. RHCP is one of a handful of bands that still holds together and produces consistent work with lots of hits, and it’s unlikely that will stop anytime soon. Good luck to Klinghoffer, and hopefully RHCP makes a Canadian appearance in 2012!

People are finally coming to their senses and learning to love the sound of analog. There’s something very organic in the sounds emitted from a turntable, and like a lot of vintage items, they tell stories.

As a new owner of a beautiful vintage turntable, a Dual 1229Q, I became very interested in what’s causing this analog trend, what it’s doing to the value of turntables and of course, what stories they have.

While The Beatles are beyond my time, there’s nothing quite like enjoying Abbey Road on a hot summer day, crackles and pops included.

Dual was started in Germany by Gebrüder Steidinger. The company started out manufacturing springs for gramophone motors, later branching into turntables. The 1229Q model was designed to avoid the skipping, one thing that can be annoying about older turntables.

Vintage turntables have really increased in value, and searching for a quality one can be a costly and time consuming process.

Melody Butler, owner of Penny Pinchers Department Store in Kamloops, says turntables turned in to her store rarely stay there for long.

“They usually come in about once per week and, if working, usually only stay on the retail floor for one or two days,” she says.

There’s no doubt that it’s “trendy” to own a vintage turntable right now. On a superficial level, these items lend an air of sophistication and historical knowledge, maybe a better taste in music.

I’d been searching for the Dual in order to listen to some favourite records that I bought for a steal: Abbey Road, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. I have no reserves in bragging that the turntable was bought for $35. A search through various online dealers shows the value to be between $100 and $260. Is it actually worth that much? Probably not, but we all like to own cool things.

Kyle Wright, who works in electronics at Penny Pinchers and loves analog sound, says portable turntables are very popular.

“I honestly just love the higher highs and the lows that vinyl gives,” he says. “We sell a lot of portable ones (turntables) and can never keep them in stock.”

Butler concurs that the vinyl trend is especially popular with the younger generation.

“We’ve noticed a steady increase in people choosing vinyl to listen to, especially those in the under-30 generation as they feel it’s more organic listening,” she explains.

While a lot of trends will come and go, the love of vintage turntables should stick around. The sound is phenomenal and the stories behind each model can really bring a depth to music listening.