TAKE A SONIC PLEASURE TRIP
Fifth album from Edmonton's Tzadeka an engaging exploration, Jenny Feniak writes.
TZADEKA — CITIES ON FIRE
The fifth album from Edmonton's vocalist/producer duo Tzadeka is a wonderful pleasure of experimental sonic relationships.
Adding a new flavour to Tzadeka's sound — emcee lyrics from Maigan van der Giessen woven through Madame Wang's refined production work — are the Murder Hornettes. The trio covers the woodwind spectrum from Kirsten Elliott's flute to Audrey Ochoa on the trombone and Allison Ochoa rounding out the lower end with her baritone sax.
The title track opens the album with an immediate taste of what this collection of artists explores through the eight tracks that follow. A dynamic pulse ushers in the flute and soft voice tempering lyrics laying out tough but undeniable truths of the world we're existing in.
Up next, Bad is What it Takes is a groovier track showing off some jazz chops, while keys colour one of the catchiest songs, Strategy Suspicion, laying out the hindsight of experience with a fortifying faith in being our best.
We need a little kindness follows with an easy flow matching the solid, serene spoken-word poetics of featured artist Dwenniman, the performance name of Shima Robinson who was recently named artistic producer of the Edmonton Poetry Festival.
The optimistic energy of Battle my Foes, a call out to say strong, is dressed up with synth adornments and balanced by entrancing interludes.
A favourite track is a tough choice, but the fun and unpredictable Music is My Medicine is a solid contender, as is the album's closer, Algorithms. This energetic celebration features one more local talent with Corvid Lorax rapping alongside van der Giessen, and punctuates an ideal ending to a solid release.
Cities on Fire officially dropped on Aug. 3, but catch Tzadeka live at their album release show Aug. 29 at CO*LAB. Find out more about the band on Facebook, and find the full album on their label's Bandcamp page.
IMMUNIZE — DO UNTO OTHERS
Speaking of fire, not everyone wants to lay down with the dog days of summer and Edmonton's Immunize lights things up with its new five-track album, Do Unto Others.
While Alberta is home to plenty of metal bands, and festivals catering exclusively to their fans, Immunize is one of the more refined talents of the genre.
Between the full-force yells and growls, the band's talented vocalist spits out lyrics tethered to a general theme surrounding society's ills and one's own complicity and accountability in the whole.
Searing guitar solos reach beyond the basic death metal expectations with melodic intricacies, demonstrated through all five tracks, and particularly well placed on the dark, midpoint epic Inhumane Restraint.
Immunize has paid heed to the adage in the music world of holding onto a good drummer, one part of a tight four-piece entity sure to satisfy anyone looking for some slick speed and energy.
Metal is one of those genres that's always more fun in a live context and Immunize will bring their all to Shaker's Roadhouse for the official release of Do Unto Others on Aug. 28. For a full discography and more info about Immunize, check out their Bandcamp page.
THE ROAD HAMMERS — BACK AT IT
As the title states, the Alberta trio certainly is.
No one could argue the pandemic has offered plenty of fodder for country songs. Not only the swaths of broken hearts, bare wallets and time locked away, but The Road Hammers' growl channels an aggressiveness many likely experienced as a counter to the extended isolation.
With the title track, it's the outlaw life that necessitates spells of lying low, from which they return and get back at what outlaws do.
This five-track effort from the Juno-winning Alberta trio is the first release in two year and features a number of their country-music contemporaries, most appearing on All My Friends. It, along with the energy of Give'r and the groovy Hillybilly Disco are a tailgating soundtrack in the making.
The album was officially released on Friday, and fans can catch them live Sunday, when they play the Together Again concert series with Dean Brody at the Edmonton Exhibition Lands. Look for a full feature in the Journal's You section next week.
BOY GOLDEN — CHURCH OF BETTER DAZE (POLARIS PICK)
As I'd mentioned in a feature earlier this summer, I volunteer my time as a juror for the annual Polaris Music Prize recognizing Canada's best releases. While the 2021 competition is coming to a final conclusion, nominations for the new year are rolling in and I'll be highlighting some of the best as they appear through the year.
Church of Better Daze is the first album to secure a spot on my list of favourites and I'm looking forward to the projects that will challenge this one in the months ahead.
The solo moniker of Winnipeg 's Liam Duncan, once a member of Middle Coast, Boy Golden preaches good vibes on an album that couldn't be better timed. It's bright, inspirational and easy, at once familiar and unique. Groovy ballads intersect with toe-tapping twang and '70s stoner rock in a cohesive and well-produced package, an uplifting antidote to the dark days we've shared.
As a bow on top, the album cover is a fun trip to work through. Find it on his Bandcamp page.