Wednesday 30 December 2020

James Keelaghan - A Recent Future (1995)


Another James Keelaghan tape! You know what that means, right? Another article about the songwriter by James Muretich! 

Our favourite part of THIS article is that it features the Jameses sipping pints at the Ship and Anchor. Sigh.

And, again for A Recent Future, we'll point you to Spotify for the listening.

Tuesday 29 December 2020

James Keelaghan - My Skies (1993)


We're about to get a bit... niche (to put it mildly) at with our posts in the next while, but FIRST we're going to clear through a few more tapes that we've picked up over the past year. Starting with this, James Keelaghan's 1993 release. We think we've said most of what we're able to with our prior posts about this great songwriter, so we'll turn it over to James Muretich, from his Herald article which, uh, heralded the release of this tape:


Our favourite piece of the article is this quote from Keelaghan: "The alternative rock scene functions in much the same way as the folk scene: in small, dark clubs somewhere out of the way, places you have to really look for but when you find them the music's great." Cheers to that!

No download for My Skies, as it's available via Spotify.

Monday 28 December 2020

Passado - Passado (1997)

Here's a tape that came to us via Danny Vescarelli, and another band that somehow slipped our notice in the 90's. Which is probably because Passado is, uh, metal-ish, and you know that's only marginally a world we understand. But we're getting better. We certainly know enough to know that these guys are more akin to Tool and Korn than, say the NWOBHM bands. Thankfully, we can fall back on internet sources to fill us in on Passado's story, including this Calgary Herald article from 2003:

And this great bit of live footage of the band:

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Get their demo here.

Sunday 27 December 2020

Vince - Hello, my name is... (1992)


Huge thanks to the inimitable Kari Watson for passing this tape our way - it's one from a band we have no recollection of, despite the pretty amazing list of people in it. We think this is the first bona fide Russ Broom band we've ever featured, somehow - we all know he would go on to fame as, among other things, making records and playing with Jann Arden. And Pat McGannon and Brent Kawchuk would go on to entertain legions with the Dino Martinis. 

Which probably should mean that Vince comes as little surprise in terms of (a) the quality of musicianship and (b) it's level of fun. From the opening "Peace Poser," the tone is set - this is tight, but not uptight. Broom's guitar playing is phenomenal (did we expect anything else?), and the songs are solid but don't take themselves too seriously. And kudos to Kari Watson for preserving the promo sticker that came with the tape:

Give Vince a listen here.



Saturday 26 December 2020

No False Suns - Jubilee Me (2020)


As we close out 2020 and have a bit of time on our hands, we're going to kick the old CCPS tape-posting machine back into operation. And for good reason - Kevin Stebner, one of our favourites, has given us a copy of the tape from their new pandemic project. And it's super good.

No False Suns sees Stebner treading new ground - this isn't the post-hardcore of Prepared, it's not the ragged folk rock of Cold Water, nor is it the glitchy electronica of Greyscreen. It's ten intrumental tracks that follow the same type of groove as Yo La Tengo's quiter moments (think "Saturday" or "Tired Hippo") - these have a deeply meditative feel that's perfect for decompressing and listening to during long walks in the snow. Layers of shimmering guitars, sparse drums, and occasional keyboards make this a highly recommended listen.

Get the digital version via the No False Suns bandcamp

Thursday 5 November 2020

Slow Kids Playing Fast - A Last Hooray (1998)


Here's a second tape from the Boat Dreams From The Hill archive, and a nice follow-up to the first Slow Kids Playing Fast tape that we posted... AND, dumdums we are, we now see that someone had very nicely pointed us to the BDFtH website in the comments on that page FOUR YEARS AGO. If nothing else, we at the CCPS excel at missing obvious clues.

Chris van der Laan has some amazingly honest notes to accompany this tape:

The second tape Slow Kids Playing Fast released in 1998, I'm pretty sure the original run was in the neighborhood of 90 copies. Not changing their name was probably a bad move as they decided emo with typical random angsty outbursts was their true calling on this release and only even bothered pretending to be fast on a couple of the tape's nine tracks. Their friend Bryce recorded four of these songs in his basement, the rest were once again done by the same disinterested engineer that recorded their first tape in his trailer. This tape doesn't hold up as well as their first, the band apparently had never heard of "digital clipping" and it sometimes gets in the way of the songs, which are about as memorable as you'd expect coming from people between the ages of 15 and 17.

Oof. Get the tape on the Boat Dreams From The Hill website


Wednesday 4 November 2020

Crimson Grind - Simply Tolerated (1997)

 


While we were chasing after yesterday's Eine Kleine China tape, the band pointed us to the treasure trove that is the Other Stuff page on their label's website. Huge thanks to former Calgarian Chris van der Laan and his Boat Dreams From the Hill label for putting up a bunch of great archival tapes, records, and CDs. We're gonna shamelessly pilfer that page for our own, not-so-great archive!

First up is Crimson Grind, and thankfully Chris has provided this bit of background:

My memory is hazy on this one. Justin agreed to play bass for Slow Kids Playing Fast if I could play bass for his heavy metal band. We rehearsed these 4 songs a few times and booked a few hours at a local studio (EK was the name, I believe). We recorded live and Justin did vocals afterwards while Dave and I sat on the floor in the control room with our friend Nick, who would've been the bass player if he had figured out how to play bass. Pretty sure Justin and Dave's parents were with us. It was my first time in a recording studio, good times.

Get it via the Boat Dreams From The Hill website

Tuesday 3 November 2020

Eine Kleine China - Feels Industry (2017)

 


Here's another bandcamp discovery - and a very happy one. Eine Kleine China is a one-person (mostly) electronica project that we weren't previously familiar with. 

Coming to us via Vancouver label Boat Dreams From the Hill (run by former Calgarian Chris van der Laan), this tape is a nice bounce through experimental electronica, minimal wave, and synthpop. These are short pieces, but meatier than throwaway doodles. Our favourite tracks on here strangely remind us of minimalist versions of Chicago experimentalists Tortoise - especially "Big Data" and the almost eponymously-titled "Eine Kleine Human Fly."

Huge thanks to Eine Kleine China for getting this into our grubby hands (well, mailbox). You can grab the download via their bandcamp.

Monday 2 November 2020

If I Look Strong; You Look Strong - Entropy (2019)

 

 

 

Well, here's a good and excessive thing. In however many years of the CCPS, we have yet to feature a DOUBLE cassette. Thankfully, the manic mind of Noah Michael and If I Look Strong; You Look Strong have scratched that itch we didn't know we had.

These tapes give If Look Strong; You Look Strong all the more space for their genre-skipping approach. Playing almost all of the instruments on this, Michael bashes through math rock, screamo, ambient, anthemic punk, and... jazz fusion? Seriously, we're pretty sure that's where the sprawling, 19-minute closing track, "The Ultimate Fate of the Universe…? Heat Death" heads for a short bit. It's weird, over-the -top, and jubilant.

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Sunday 1 November 2020

Ghost Story - Soundtrack to Falling Down Stairs (2020)

 

VERY occasionally, we do leave the CCPS offices (wearing a mask, carrying hand sanitizer, maintaining appropriate distances) and visit our local record stores. So big thanks to Eddie at Melodiya for pointing this tape out to us on one such visit.

This tape came with a sticker that proclaims "make EMO socially acceptable again," which we appreciate - we've always liked bands/albums that give us a clear thesis statement. Ghost Story are unapologetically emo - these songs DRIP with the feels. Gene is already at work storyboarding introspective videos for each track on here. 

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Get this via the Ghost Story Bandcamp.

Saturday 31 October 2020

Trigger Warning - Eradicate Consciousness (2020)

 

Continuing with the random Bandcamp purchases, here's a spankin' new tape from Trigger Warning. We've seen their name around town on posters for electronic/noise shows, but hadn't actually heard them until now. 

Trigger Warning is the project of Mary Cleland, who we think we've seen as part of the very excellent Slut Prophet. This tape is a pretty great thing - kinetic, metallic beats throb and pulse in ways that make us JUST uneasy enough. If you've ever wished for a dirtier, nastier version of, say, Corinthian, Trigger Warning is for you.

Get it via Bandcamp.

Friday 30 October 2020

Traveler - Termination Shock (2020)



One of the things about being shut in this year is that we've been going a bit squirrely with not being able to get out to live shows. To make up for it, we've been trawling through Bandcamp and trying to find tapes and discover new bands. So, this one!

Not being metal guys here at the CCPS (DESPITE Gene having grown up in Rundle), we haven't had a lot of visibility into that side of our city's scene. Thankfully, we can turn to the Encyclopaedia Metallum for the low-down - which tells us that we're late to the party, and this is Traveler's second full-length. BUT we have enough of an ear to tell us that these guys are mining the New Wave of British Heavy Metal sound of bands like Judas Priest - without sounding like copycats. Soaring vocals and driving riffs make this an epic journey we're more than happy to take.

Get it (tape, LP or download) via the Traveler bandcamp.




Thursday 29 October 2020

No More Moments - Mill Grove High (2020)

 

Despite having featured what feels like a bazillion tapes by Iron Tusk, we haven't yet had the pleasure of featuring Carlin Black Rabbit's other band, the skaterock-leaning No More Moments. Until now!

Considering how long they've been around, we're kind of stuck on what to say about No More Moments. Thankfully, there's this excellent doc to take care of that: 

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This tape is an excellent blast through five tracks, with "Everyone But Me" being the standout, with its ode to the joy of going to rock shows and finding a place where you can be yourself. It reminds us of some of the best moments of Calgary's all ages scene.

Get the tape from the No More Moments bandcamp.

Wednesday 28 October 2020

Wish Lash - Chaos Choir (2020)


Kerry Maguire's excellent Wish Lash is back with a second tape, this time from her temporary (?) base in Austin, Texas. Which is maybe another cause for a Miscellany tag and an argument in the office, but... you know.

This tape is a further honing of the experimental electronica/dark techno that made Wish Lash's first outing such a tasty treat. To our ear, this is darker, denser, and moodier than that first release, which probably suits the dumpster fire that is 2020.

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Get the download via the Wish Lash bandcamp, or order the tape from Glow Code.

Tuesday 27 October 2020

Gawdie - EP1 (2020)

 

We had an argument about whether to tag this as a miscellany post, and ultimately we realize it maybe doesn't matter. Even though Gawdie's Sara Jean Hughes is now based in Montreal, we're calling this one ours. 

Getting out from behind the drum kit and eschewing the pop punk tendencies of her past bands Grown-Ups and Pre Nup, Gawdie sees Sara Jean Hughes exploring the realm of moody synth pop and electronica. Whispered vocals, traces of guitar, and minimalist synths carry these four short songs through bliss and just the right amount of tension (side two's "Maladaptive" is a standout). 

Get it from the Gawdie bandcamp.

Wednesday 2 September 2020

Sawlung - Wounding (2019)



We almost missed this second tape by local sludgecore band Sawlung since, uh, the spine is pretty much identical to their first tape. We're glad we took a minute to double check, though.

This tape makes us really, really miss live music: the feel of your bowels being shifted by the volume of a bass guitar, the gentle wind from the speakers when the kick drum hits... sigh. Good times will be back, though. Until then, we'll just have to play this tape really, really loud. Hope you like the doom and screaming, neighbours!

Get it via the Sawlung bandcamp.

Tuesday 1 September 2020

Iron Tusk - III (2020)



Iron Tusk seem intent on flooding the CCPS with tapes, and - fortunately for them - we're very willing to receive them.

III is a two-song blast of their metal, and it's pretty great. It's their first recording as a four-piece, making this beefier, more aggressive, and more better. Bonus: that amazing artwork by Chris Zajko.



Get it via the Iron Tusk bandcamp.

Monday 31 August 2020

Die Scum Inc. - Flight Of The Infinite (2020)



As folks who grew up with new wave, we're still a bit unsure what to make of the current crop of synthwave bands. We kinda really like them, but we also kinda really wish we could still get away with popping our collars and using mousse in our hair.

That aside, Die Scum Inc. is a local band that's doing synthwave well - and backing it up with solid packaging. Their "notion picture soundtracks" are a cross between an imaginary soundtrack and synthpop; it's fun, catchy, and  well-executed.

Get it via the Die Scum Inc. bandcamp.

Sunday 30 August 2020

Parisian Orgy - Parisian Orgy (2019)


It's been an understandably slow year for local physical releases, thanks to the inability to have shows (safety first, remember). BUT there are still tapes from last year we had to track down, like this excellent release from Gwen Morgan's newest project, Parisian Orgy. With bandmates from Purlicue and Polly Dactic in tow, this is a six song romp that's been well worth the wait.

Parisian Orgy is catchy and fun. The amazing closer, "Boys Town," sounds like a slapstick remake of the Shiverettes' "Boys Club." The chorus of "la's" is worth the price of admission alone.

Get it via the Parisian Orgy bandcamp.

Saturday 29 August 2020

CCPS Miscellany: Minstrels on Speed - Id (1991)


Uh oh. We can't remember which Edmontonian passed this one to us. Was it Corey Hamilton or Chris Zuk? We're grateful to both guys, and apologize for this moment of forgetfulness. This has been sitting in the CCPS queue for way too long.

This tape looks like it predates the one we previously posted by a year. It's a lot more Jr. Gone Wild than that tape, as well. Which we certainly approve of!

Get it here.

Friday 28 August 2020

Vernal Season - Vernal Season (1998)


Here's the second Vernal Season tape from Brendan Tincher. This is highly confusing for us - both tapes have the same title, and neither has a date on it. We could have asked Brendan, but... we're lazy.

Anyways, this tape is more of the punk pop trajectory that would take Blood/Hetherington/Tincher on to great heights (?) with the Neckers. It doesn't take itself too seriously, and it's solid.

We guess that's always in season.

Thursday 27 August 2020

Vernal Season - Vernal Season (1997)


Brendan Tincher of the Neckers/Pygmies/Jeans Degrees made good on a long-standing promise/threat, and gave us a couple of tapes of the band that preceded the Neckers.

This is the first of 'em, and, sure, it sounds like a bunch of high school pals playing for shits and giggles - 'cos that's probably what it was. But Vernal Season is pretty good - Bil Hetherington's voice and delivery are already solid, and the band is tight. The only questionable inclusion is a five-minute power ballad. Very happily, this isn't something any of the following Hetherington/Blood/Tincher bands were known for.

Guess those power ballads went... out of season!

Wednesday 26 August 2020

21st Inheritance - Swamp Production Demo (1991)


We just updated our post on Red Autumn Fall precursor Playground Treason with some amazing history from Greg Williams, who recently reached out to us. He also passed along this demo and memories of his next project, 21st Inheritance. Greg writes:
Over the spring and summer of ’90 I moved on to form 21st Inheritance with Dave Berezan (bass). We knew each other from the Warehouse and The Republik, and we were joined by John Bland (drums). John and I were from Oakridge, and we’d both attended Wise Wood; we jammed in John’s dad’s basement.
That was short lived, and the three of us found rental rehearsal space at Swamp Productions at 116 Forge Road S.E. in Fairview. We auditioned a couple of vocalists before finding Chris Stevenson – another Wise Wood alumnus. We recorded a demo tape that we delivered to Wes Hegg, and a comment from Wes led me to believe it was Chris’s vocals that landed us two 1991 shows at the Westward Club, once opening for my old bandmates Red Autumn Fall on April 11 and another show on May 31 opening for The Grain, Windwalker and One Fell Swoop.

 

Vocalist Chris Stevenson in the sound booth of Swamp Productions.

Bass player David Berezan in the booth.

Guitarist Greg Wililams, likely putting out a cigarette.

Drummer John Bland.

Shortly after, to accommodate Chris’s impending move to New York to attend acting school, 21st Inheritance disbanded. I jammed with John a few times, tried to find someone else to work with, but finally decided there were those who could play the guitar, and those who really just wished they could. I was in the latter camp.
Greg tells us that while he have up the guitar, 21st Inheritance drummer John Bland went on to play with bands in Vancouver and Chris Stevenson fronted a few bands out east. It's bassist David Berezan that we find pretty fascinating - he's gone on to an accomplished career as a composer and academic. If you want a rabbit hole to fall down, we suggest digging into his amazing SoundRunner project.

Tuesday 25 August 2020

Basic Black - Envy The Dead (1990)


Corey Hamilton sent along a second Basic Black tape, so... here it is! This tape sees the band paring back to a threesome (we assume Randy Burton was off playing with the mighty Ded Souls by this time), but one that's no less powerful. Despite this pointedly negative review in VOX:


Please note also that there's a negative review of the Wheat Chiefs in here, along with a somewhat positive review of the Barenaked Ladies. Maybe they had been sniffing too much glue that month?

Or maybe they were just envious.

Monday 24 August 2020

Basic Black - Dreamer's Unit (1989)


Big thanks to Edmontonian Corey Hamilton for passing a couple of Basic Black tapes our way. These ones somehow weren't in the collection, and we're happy to have 'em. Because, you know - no tape left behind!

We're not quite sure how to peg Basic Black - there are elements of bands like Ninth Configuration in their sound, but also a bit of that Seattle grunge thing, which makes sense after reading this VOX article, which starts with the band rhapsodizing about the greatness of that city's music scene:


Get back to basics here!

Sunday 23 August 2020

Day of Eden - Spark (1992)


 

Not only did we have yesterday's Day of Eden tape sitting unposted for years, but so was this one... Huh. Who knew? 

And remember how we said their first tape was dramatic? This one is even more so, with a first epic track that takes us thru seven minutes of feels. This whole thing knits together like a rock opera. Based on the cover art, we think that's the intent...

Catch a Spark here




Saturday 22 August 2020

Day of Eden - Day of Eden (1990)

 

We recently did something ridiculous, and put the entire CCPS library into Discogs, including this one - which we've had on the shelf for years, but somehow neglected to post. Why? We really have no idea. 

And despite scouring our VOX archives, we can't find anything about Day of Eden. The band roster consists of two former Beat Apostles, but that's all we got. The band plays a very dramatic and epic flavour of music, with bits of pop, rock, folk, and, uh, drama. We suspect Day of Eden put on a good live show...