Bulletproof

In the next coming months there will be an influx in releases of female-driven acts. Too my chagrin, artists like the ever popular, yet terrible, Lady Gaga have left a permanent stain on the image of what these women are capable of and are aiming to achieve within the genre. Though, I have higher hopes now that I've seen some of the new/newer work of a few notable outfits.

The new single from Canadian group Dragonette entitled "Fixin' to Thrill" is a dynamo of super-heavy grinding synth effects with catchy, yet not cheesy, vocals. The quartet's initial release, "Galore" was a milestone for Canadian and female artists of the genre, melting away the lets-get-drunk-and-party stereotype that artists like Gaga imprinted in people's minds.

Another brand new release from British artist Little Boots, entitled "Hands", is a sixteen track, strobe-lit express, packed with danceable tracks like "New in Town" and "Remedy". However, the upcoming album from fellow Brit La Roux (pictured above) is stealing the show (in my opinion at the very least). Her intensely electric vocal effort in her work is captivating and enthralling. I'm extremely partial to the track "Bulletproof" which has been released via EP along with remixes by a handful of artists including Just a Band. And if that doesn't get your dance-engine revving, you're clearly in a coma.

Addicted

Well we can all blame Nicole Markham of CJAM's Washing Machine for inexplicably getting me absolutely hooked on this new female, Canadian artist. Vancouver-based electro-pop wonder Christer has blatantly demonstrated to me, yet again, how catchy and damn fun the right combination of pop vocals and playful synth-keys can be. Her 2009 album Techna is a powerhouse of a demonstration of her skills to pull off this combination. On the assumption that a few of you will pull the whole "Man, electro-pop is so played out" or "I'm so sick of all of this postal service-style stuff", blah blah blah. I can say with conviction that Techna will break you from this rut.

The album starts off with the supercharged "How You Like It" slaps down warming vocals that wrap around your entire head when you have headphones on and continues its assault with deeper, acid-like riffs that eventually are gift-wrapped with colourful strings to play the song out. Other tracks like "Cadaver" and "Trees And Rockets" use more pinpoint keystrokes and bass kicks to complement the vocal work in an effective and thoroughly enjoyable fashion.

If you're a fan of Ladyhawke, you'll love this. If you're not a fan of Ladyhawke, you'll still love this.

Tracklist for Tuesday April 14, 2009: Going Places

So I decided a sweet theme for a show would be an "Across Canada" initiative where I sample artists from every Provicne in Canada. Though I did not manage to find anything worth while from Prince Edward Island (and trust me, I spent a hell of a time looking), I did make sure the vacation had a fantastic stop in each location's electronic scene. Awesome eh?

Travel Tracks*
[ON] Ekoplex - Into the Unknown
[BC] Psyentifica - Growling World
[QC] Akido - Reaction Shot
[NS] District - Daydreaming
[AB] Akolade - 3 + Infinity
[NL] Errand Boy - Yes with an If
[NB] Apt 202 - Moonbeam
[SK] Hado - Hand of Tao
[MB] Arktikism - Greater Power

*All of these artists and the work they've done are up at CBC Radio 3.

Filler
Time Lock - Hyber Nation
Danger - 00:01 [Exclusive]
Shinichi Osawa - Detonator
Ladytron - Black Cat
I Am Robot and Proud - The Catch
Moderat - Rusty Nails

Canadian Content: Quality Over Quantity

Working with music in the electronic genre will definitely open your eyes to the lack of Canadian artists in proportion to American or British or French etc. Rightfully so, the United States has more well-funded record labels and a higher population, and countries in Europe have the ability to say that they are THE powerhouse fueling the electronic dynamo. Yet what people fail to realize is the Canadian Electronic scene is growing at rapid rate and most groups or artists give you more bang for your buck than a lot of those run-of-the-mill Trance or House outfits.

Canadian artists are bursting at the seems with potential and talent, yet often go overlooked for bigger names like Daft Punk or The Prodigy. Yet within the last year or so, many artists are either making huge debuts or striking back with albums that are bigger and better than the last. MSTRKRFT for example is Canada's current heavy-hitter, however Electro-House is not for everyone. As of late, a few notable Canadian electronic artists should be paid more attention to.


Faunts
These Alberta natives have proved once again with their 2009 release "Feel.Love.Thinking.Of." that they're still in the game. Their sound is a unique blend of vocals (sometimes in falsetto) with catchy pop patterns and rhythmically blurring sound. This being their second full-length release, Faunts knew just how high to jump to clear their own preset bar and at the same time prove to create one of the freshest albums so far this year.


Deadmau5
Joel Zimmerman, a resident of Toronto, has created quite a stir within the electronic community, not only while touring Canada, but the United States and Europe as well. "Random Album Title" was received with wide open arms, with a sound that is both customary and extremely in your face at the same time. The rolling pianos mixed in with the heavy bass kicks and clever and imaginative programming put this Canadian at the top of his class.


I Am Robot and Proud
Another native to Toronto, programmer Shaw-Han Liem has been more successful in Japan than he has in Canada. With over four near-perfect albums out since 2001 Liem has already proved himself as a master musician. His skills in creating rolling soundscapes powered by pop based IDM give the listener a euphoric sensation, yet still retain an extensive level of complexity and originality.

These are merely three prominent examples of hidden gems in Canadian culture. My advice to you: get out your shovel and start digging for more.

Fist of God: MSTRKRFT Brings the Fiery Hail

I'm sure that most reader's and electronic aficionados alike are familiar with the work of Al-P (Alex Puodziukas) and JFK (Jesse F. Keeler) as MSTRKRFT. The two are a Toronto electro-house outfit born from previous musical relationships. Keeler is a former member of Death from Above 1979 and Al-P a producer and programmer who was involved with the band's production needs. When DFA 1979 was dispanded, the pair began their work as MSTRKRFT (pronounced "Master Craft") in 2005 and released their first full length record "The Looks" a year later. Besides the often-times pretentious bullshit Pitchfork displays in record reviews, the album was well received. With new recognition and growing popularity, the pair have been commissioned to do remixes for artists like Justice, Kylie Minogue, Bloc Party and more.

In 2008, MSTRKRFT did a live set at Windsor's "only world class nightclub" (the club's words, not mine), The Boom Boom Room. Al and Jesse were preceded by a few other acts but lit the building up with electricity and sweat. The pair noted during their BBC Essential Mix that they "don't really record live mixes very often 'cause [they're] usually really drunk and [they're] afraid of what they might sound like afterwards," (Keeler 2008).

March 17, 2009 marks the release of their long awaited return with a second full length album (which garnered a huge amount of hype) entitled Fist of God. Two singles were released almost a year in advance on the Bounce/Vuvuvu EP, so the wait for the final product has been tedious, yet the rewards are substantial. Fist of God combines the usual MSTRKRFT sound with more speed. The tempo of the tracks as a whole has increased dramatically, focussing more on the effect of them actually being used in a club-type environment. Because it is a gapless album (each track blends into the next), it seems as if it was meant to be, if desired, played straight through on the dance floor, which is unheard of for a single album to be fully sampled. However this is entirely possible due to the variation of each song's content. Tracks like "1000 Cigarettes" and "Click Click (ft. E-40)" are literally lightning in audio form. Take my word for it, if you haven't gotten into this band, do it, and if you have, buy this album when it comes out, I promise it will be one of the best releases of 2009.

That Bubblegum Music

thun/der/heist: The act of stealing another's thunder, to trump another with something far more superior.

Toronto based duo Thunderheist are no strangers to the world of club-based electro. However they're putting a fresh spin on the Canadian scene. Front woman Isis and programmer Grahm Zilla put on a performance like no other seen in the greater Toronto area. Reminiscent of some of Kanye West's tracks that involve heavy electronic programming and complicated rhythmic work, Thunderheist is a natural blend of Hip Hop and Electronic. The lyrical work flows effortlessly over stylish bass lines to create a catalyst for bodily motion. The sound is essential electric, spewing light and heat from every breakdown.

You could be among thousands in a stadium, or intimate at your local bar... either way, if you're in the front row, expect to get wet. Thunderheist sweats Belvedere and Red Bull, and sprays more hooks than a heavyweight championship bout (Official Site).

The genre of combining hip hop and electronic is by no means a new thing; rap artists have been sampling for many years in order to add the exact sound they're looking for to compliment vocal work. Thunderheist approaches this cross-genre with a new attitude, focussing less on the rap-based elements as the primary source of artistry and instead make it one half of a balanced scale. Yet it's the less noticed prowess of the band's ability to transfer personal energy ideas into their music that creates such a masterful product. I imagine that a live show would be balls-to-the-wall intense, wherein the performance commanded you to get your energy flowing and experience a sense of bliss in motion.

When the Jerk It EP was released in 2008, a music video contest was presented to create an original video for the single "Jerrrk It". Videos started buzzing from a ton of places to try and impress the band and the internet audience alike. Although I am unaware of the winning video for this contest, I am personally partial to this entry directed by Kristen Waterson from Ryerson University.

Thunderheist
Tracklist:

01 Sweet 16
02 Nothing 2 Step 2
03 Jerk It
04 LBG (Little Booty Girl)
05 Bubblegum
06 Slow Roll
07 Space Cowboy
08 The Party After
09 Freddie
10 Do the Right Thing
11 Red Whine
12 Cruise Low
13 Anthem

If you plan on having a house party and are at a loss at what music should be played to equally serve as background beat and dance/party music alike, Thunderheist is a clear and obvious choice.

Harmony and Dissonance

The music of Hamilton duo Junior Boys has been described in ways like "rhythmic capriciousness" all the way to "bedpost breaking, bed-spring-creaking, neighbor-banging-on-the-shared-wall, honeymoon-hotel-room sex". However appropriate both of these descriptions are, the band delivers streamlined melodies that create an overwhelming assault of the senses.

A lack of continuity, though, is made apparent on their 2009 release of their third album Begone Dull Care. In the cliche sense, the band is not changing their sound, but evolving to shape the music to match the transient nature of life itself. You still have the same pop based vocals from Jeremy Greenspan that woo you into awe and inspiration, yet the production and coding is much more rigorously complex and systematically beautiful. More tracks like "Hazel" and "Parallel Lines" flirt with boundaries between soft sounds and quick programming, weaving a tapestry of a cold city night lit only by the pale moon and the dazzling sparkle in your lover's eye.

Tracklist
01. Parallel Lines
02. Work
03. Bits And Pieces
04. Dull To Pause
05. Hazel
06. Sneak A Picture
07. The Animator
08. What It's For

The album drops on March 24 in Canada. Stream "Parallel Lines".