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Suuns – Images Du Futur [Review]

Ming Wu — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:02:11 +0000

I know this album came out on March 5, 2013.
Definitely one of my favorite albums to come out in 2013.
If you haven’t seen them live, you are miss out big time!
Finally I have the time to do a review.
Images Du Futur out on Secretly Canadian is the second album by the Montreal band.
I’ve been a big fan since their debut album “Zeroes QC“.

This is a far different album than expected.
There is less of Ben Shermie’s murmurs
Maybe I noticed that Liam and Joseph add in their vocals in songs like Edie’s Dream and Mirror Mirror.

The band has been compared/criticized to Clinic.
I wouldn’t really know since I never listened to their music. (Unless you tell me which of their album I should listen to?)
Images Du Futur (to me) seems to have sway away from that comparison.

The album starts off with a angst and claustrophobic heavy rock track “Power of Two”.
Is that a cowbell being used?
While 2020 has that crazy psych-rock feel with it’s crazy guitar riffs.
Mirror Mirror is my favorite track on the album.
Here is a blurb on the song:
“Mirror Mirror” departs from the frenzied earlier pace, decelerating to a lethargic drawl; the droning, almost tedious undertones are paid off with flurries of synthesized flute that announce the dawn of the dreamscape ahead.
Edie’s Dream is what the title says.
A experimental mellow dream-like rock tune.
Doesn’t this song make you want to have sex?
Also I know the lyrics goes “Facing Visions” but I keep singing as “They Say Visions”.
They did a new version of Bambi which is shorter and very synth.
Ends it off with Music Won’t Save You which is a haunting social commentary.

Overall I really love Images Du Futur.
Very different, smooth and sexy while listening to the whole album.

Best tracks:

Power of Ten
2020 (WARNING: Music video may cause seizures!)

Mirror Mirror

Edie’s Dream

Sunspot
Bambi
Music Won’t Save You

I’d give Images Du Futur 10/10.

Fevers – Dance Cry Dance [Listen]

Ming Wu — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:21:21 +0000

Ottawa’s Fevers dropped the long awaited single called “Dance Cry Dance”.
It’s taken from the upcoming album “No Room For Light”.
The song is a fun dancey electro-pop sound and feel to it.
Also Sarah drops the S-Bomb in the song too.
Have a listen to Dance Cry Dance.

Don’t forget the band will be playing Ritual on May 25th.
Details are on here.

Dirty Beaches – Drifters/Love Is The Devil [Review]

Ming Wu — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:01:18 +0000

Dirty Beaches is one of my favorite musicians at the moment.
I don’t think Alex will need my approval of positivity and Asian solidarity but I am going to give it to him anyways.
Dirty Beaches has been on a wild ride since the critical acclaim and success from Badlands which came out in 2011.
Now he will do something ambitious which the double album “Drifters/Love Is The Devil” which drops on May 21st through Zoo Music.
Total of 16 tracks. Drifters with 8 tracks and Love Is The Devil with 8 tracks.
Drifters/Love Is The Devil is a reflection on the fragility of reality.

In my opinion Drifters and Love Is The Devil is a unique concept album.
Still very experimental but not of that greaser lo-fi rock sound that people were accustomed in the Badlands era.
Alex even stated on his blog from March 12, 2013 (Here is a snippet):
I feel blessed and am very proud to present more work this year that showcases the other side of Dirty Beaches.
After Badlands, I’ve retired the idea of flirting with the concept of samples and have returned to my old territory of synth, basic electric guitars, drum machines, along with experimentation in newer territories like electronic drum pads, and casio digital guitars, which you will hear on the new double LP “Drifters/Love is the devil, coming out later this year in May via Zoo Music.
Can’t wait to get it out and share it with the world.
I’m also working on more compositions at the moment and hopefully will be able to find a home for these instrumental compositions that I really love writing.
Good bye true blue, good bye lord knows best, good bye sweet 17, and good bye pompadour.

Drifters is more like a city nightlife in a dark twisted club/bar area.
Very different in sound when he goes lo-fi electro-rock.
Very vocal driven lo-fi style.
Not really dancey but very hypnotic trance mood.
Mirage Hall is the track that stood out the most with it’s 8 minute retro-80s lo-fi new wave punk-rock.

Love Is The Devil is a complete opposite.
Think of it as the hangover part, coming out of the club/bar.
Walking in slow motion while the sun is coming out and trying to forget what you did wrong.
Ambient, beautiful and atmospheric.
More instrumental except for the track “Like the Ocean We Part”.
As I called it the “Hangover album”.
People might interpret it as a break-up album since it has a sombre sad feel to it.
I think it should be a soundtrack to a Wong Kar-Wai album.

It’s hard to say which one I like the most.
Both albums are typically different in style and tone.

While most will find Drifters to be difficult to listen to.
It’s what makes Dirty Beaches so interesting.
Ambitious album to say the least.

Best tracks on Drifters:

Night Walk
I Dream In Neon
Casino Lisboa

Aurevoir Mon Visage
Mirage Hall
Landscapes In The Mist

Best tracks on Love Is The Devil

Greyhound at Night
This Is Not My City
Woman
Love Is The Devil

Like The Ocean We Part
Berlin

I’d give Drifters 9/10 and Love Is The Devil 10/10.
So in total I give both albums 10/10.

4in1 Music Sessions – “Great Glebe Garage Sale” Edition! on May 25, 2013

Ming Wu — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:55:51 +0000

Mark down your calendar for May 25th.
4in1 Music Session is taking place at this year’s Great Glebe Garage Sale.
So we will be setting up at 157 First Avenue.
But here are the times (approx) and acts playing:

1pm – Cat Hibou Blais
1:30 – Sean Shark
2pm – Saxyndrums

2:30pm - Silvergun & Spleen

4in1 is happy to announce that they will be supporting the Ottawa Food Bank on this session, as they will accept food and cash donations that will go directly to the cause.
Show your support for local music and charitable organizations like the Food Bank! For more info, please visit:
http://ottawafoodbank.ca/2013/05/great-glebe-garage-sale-2/
More info click on the Facebook event.
We are more welcomed to have maybe one or two more to play at this event.
Please contact 4in1 on here.

Playlist & Interview for Photogmusic LIVE on CHUO FM [May 20, 2013]

Ming Wu — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:18:20 +0000

Happy Victoria Day!
Today was a great day on my radio show, I had André M. Bluteau in the studio to talk about the show on May 24th and I had a phoner with Matt of Poor Young Things with their show on May 21st.
Have a listen to the show.

Part one with André M. Bluteau

Photogmusic Live – Interview with @ambluteay – May 20, 2013 by Photogmusic on Mixcloud

Part two

Photogmusic Live – Part two for May 20, 2013 by Photogmusic on Mixcloud

Part three – Phone interview with Matt of Poor Young Things

Photogmusic Live – Interview with @pooryoungthings May 20, 2013 by Photogmusic on Mixcloud

Here is the playlist:

Socalled – Overture
Michael Feuerstack – Map
André M. Bluteau – Mother Father
André M. Bluteau – Birds
Her Harbour – This Age
Diana – Born Again
Dirty Beaches – Like the Ocean We Part
Laura Mvula – That’s Alright
The National – Graceless
Savages – City’s Full
Poor Young Things – Sign of the Times
Rathborne – Last Forgiven

Music video/player:

This Age by Her Harbour

Ottawa Rock Lottery 2013 @ Mavericks [May 18, 2013]

Ming Wu — Sun, 19 May 2013 21:01:30 +0000

The fifth annual Ottawa Rock Lottery 2013 took place at Mavericks on May 18th.
In case you don’t know, here is a blurb on the event.
25 musicians from all different genres and bands.
5 bands determined by randomly pulling names out of a very stylish hat.
24 hrs to create a 20 – 30 minute set of all original music.
1 night only.
Proceeds went to local charity organization The Ottawa Food Bank.
This being in it’s fifth year.
I have to say it was the best Rock Lotto in Ottawa’s music scene.
The five bands were:
• But I Don’t Want To Be A Pirate

• Sextadeth

• Black Usher

• Slow Dance Chubbies

• Nicholas Cage in Con Air

The event was hosted by CBC Radio 1‘s Bandwidth Amanda Putz
All five bands were actually good.
There was no trainwrecks.
Fun entertainment and the audience was getting into the music!

Here are the rest of the photos.

Rae Spoon @ Chinatown Remixed 2013

Ming Wu — Sun, 19 May 2013 16:14:01 +0000

Went to the fifth annual Chinatown Remixed which took place on Somerset in Ottawa.
With the weather, it couldn’t get any better.
This year there was a block party at the parking lot of Shanghai Restaurant.
For the photos, go here.
I managed to catch Rae Spoon‘s set.
At first I thought Rae was suppose to go on at around 8pm.
But the show started off at 7pm.

It was a nice set filled with indie acoustic rock and electro-pop.

Here are the rest of the photos.

The National – Graceless

Ming Wu — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:28:58 +0000

The National‘s Trouble Will Find Me won’t dropped until May 21st.
There is high anticipation on this album.
I think this is one the standout tracks on the album.
More of a upbeat rock track.
Have a listen to Graceless.

You excited for the new album?

High Waters, Wake Island and Trees @ Raw Sugar Cafe [May 17, 2013]

Ming Wu — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:27:49 +0000

It was the start of the long May weekend.
Decided to go to Raw Sugar Cafe for this show.
Just noticed the band names had a nature related theme.
Playing at the show:
• High Waters

• Wake Island

• Trees

The show started off with Ottawa’s Trees.
It was the first time for them to play at Raw Sugar Cafe.
They played a great indie experimental pop rock set.

Second was Montreal’s Wake Island.
Previously as Intensive Care.
This was another band that played at Raw Sugar Cafe for the first time.
They had more of indie synth-rock set.
Sort of reminded me of Wolf Parade.
Great set!

Lastly High Waters played their set.
They played a indie rock set filled with layered and textured guitar, drums and vocals.
Sort of reminded me of Radiohead, Wintersleep and Sigur Ros.
It was a great set.

Here are the rest of the photos

The Dodos – Confidence + Signed to Dine Alone Records

Ming Wu — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:54:16 +0000

A few days ago The Dodos dropped a new single called Confidence.
Today the band are signed to Dine Alone Records for the Canadian market.
You can say it is a departure but also a tribute to Chris Reimer who passed away last year.
It has that Woman influence with the guitar jangle sound.
Such a brilliant song to listen.
Have a listen to Confidence.

Confidence is taken from the upcoming album Carrier on August 27th through Polyvinyl and Dine Alone

Here is a teaser for the upcoming album