Review: The Torrent's debut, Leonora Moreno, Electronic Post Punk Retro 80's Drone

Easily one of the most exciting releases of the year, Toronto's The Torrent are Cameron Groves and ex Hidden Camera's Mike Barry who left his band because it "felt like more of a job." A fuse of early post punk and new wave (supposedly this might be considered "No Wave,") The Torrent are not so much about rehashing old sounds, as blending the old with the new giving birth to a whole new post-millenial baby, what with minimal drum machines, atonal singing, scales and modes outside of conventional Western ones, not to mention the droning and Krautrock styles suggestive of the uberprolific Stereolab, and you have an idea of why this album should be on the top of your playlist. Cameron Groves also adds some intense violin to create the droning effect that I love with so much Scandinavian music, Swedish bands like Garmarna and Hedningarna. Other bands that come to mind are Early Jesus and Mary Chain, Joy Division, Bauhaus, B52's, Beat Happening, Magnetic Fields, Public Image Ltd., etc. This is crazy good. Crazy good you can dance to, or drug out to, either way, you'd be a fool to overlook it. 

Hear it on The New Spin this Thursday night, 9-11 P.M. on 93.5 CHMR-FM, 7:30 EST.
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in sound,
dashiell brown, host of The New Spin, "the best music you've never heard."

Pat LePoidevin's Blue Tornadoes, Innovative Folk from New Brunswick

Anyone heard of this guy, Pat LePoidevin? He's stationed in Sackville, New Brunswick, and his new album Blue Tornadoes is something to behold, especially for any of you folkies out there. By folkies, I mean people who like folk/Americana and International folk music, including bagpipes and tin whistle, the former of which he learned while living in Scotland. Similar to St. John's own The Mountains and The Trees, Pat LePoidevin apparently uses a looper pedal to create innovative soundscapes using organic instruments with some fancy fingerpicking. His voice has the power to make you cry, very similar to M. Ward and Nick Drake, very smokey. He gets a little too rock n' rolly with his voice almost going to an Eddie Vedder style on "Cancer," but it's not so bothersome that I can't get past it. Others will love it because of that, I'm sure. Other tracks on the album have some wicked bagpipe work.

Here's a sampling of his incredible music that you'll just have to hear for yourself. I'll also be featuring it this week on The New Spin this Thursday night, 9-11 P.M. on 93.5 CHMR-FM, 7:30 EST.

Make sure you listen to "The Bird and The Basement," very Cat Stevens...

in sound,

dashiell brown,

host of The New Spin, "the best music you've never heard."

New Spin Podcast: Interview with Smiley Ralph, one of the few indie acts in St. John's, NL

Smiley Ralph is about the only local indie pop act in St. John's, Newfoundland that I know of, other than Greg Hewlett's wonderful band Pelago. And let's not forget AE Bridger. Smiley Ralph just played a wonderful show at The Ship on Saturday, truly proving themselves as one of the freshest indie acts out there. Ryan Kennedy (guitars, keys, vocals) and Andrew Strickland (bass, vocals) sung harmoniously with each other, Chris Donnelly ripped it on the drumz, and Justin Frampton colored the well-crafted songs with wonderful min7 chords. If you are a fan of Pavement, Sebadoh, Built to Spill, and any other band associated with the indie-rock cannon, this is your band to watch in St. John's. Like their name suggests, Smiley Ralph will put a dance in your step and a smile on your face.

Listen to the podcast.

in sound,

dashiell brown, host of The New Spin