Album reviews
Wake Island, Born to Leave (Independent)
A gradual two-year buildup of one-off singles for the Montreal/NY duo has culminated into a cohesive album, and when you take a step back and absorb the journey as a whole, the result is undeniable. The natives of Lebanon have taken a long emotional, physical and musical trek to reach where they are now. They built Laylit, a community around the music of the Middle Eastern diaspora, which informs the rewarding sonic turns taken on the primarily electronic Born to Leave. It’s an album about the places we call home: the physical spaces, the memories, the people and the things we long to experience again. Nothing is taken for granted and victories are hard-earned. The album Wake Island was born to make. 10/10 Trial Track: “Nouvelle Vague” (Erik Leijon)
Porter Robinson, Nurture (Mom+Pop)
Making art about the creative rut you’re in is certainly one way to get out of it, and this is exactly what Porter Robinson does to stunning effect on his sophomore LP. The North Carolina native’s first album since 2014’s mesmerizing Worlds is a more personal and introspective effort than its sonically grandiose predecessor. Here, Robinson meditates largely on his bouts with depression and writer’s block, as well as his brother’s battle with cancer. Tracks like “Get Your Wish” and “Musician” drive these themes home, with “do-re-mi-fa-sola-ti-do” and album closer “Trying to Feel Alive” symbolizing the rediscovery of his creative thirst and passion for music. Standout track “Look at the Sky” is lyrically full of hope and confidence in the future. With piano, strings, Zelda-like synths, pitched-up vocals and glitchy effects all adding colour to the instrumentation, Porter Robinson finds a sweet spot between his personal struggles and a musical emphasis on beauty that has long been his trademark. 9/10 Trial Track: “Look at the Sky” (Dave MacIntyre)
Jaymie Silk, Young, Broke & Fabulous (Pelican Fly)
The erstwhile Montrealer in Paris is in the midst of a prolific run of distinct releases based in club and experimental sounds, with this latest serving as a defacto pop and R&B entry point. Following a brief introduction, the album kicks immediately into his most realized pop tune yet, the hook-laden and crisply produced “Don’t Go” with Montrealer LIA. In true chameleon style, there’s more to the record than just earworms, yet it never fails to sound like the here and now (minus a
Daft Punkish tribute, but that’s always in style). The left turns don’t feel out of place and serve the greater good of songwriting. Silk has an ear to the pop landscape, and can pick/pull elements as needed. 8.5/10 Trial Track: “Somebody Like You” (Erik Leijon)
Erica Pomerance, En concert au Petit Québec Libre
(Tour de bras/Trésor National)
Montreal filmmaker and folk singer Erica Pomerance had only released one record before this session was unearthed by the fine folks at Trésor National. 1973’s En concert is a pretty different experience from her 1969 free-folk freakout on
ESP. It’s a pared-down, righteous set sung entirely in French that crackles with electric fury. As Pomerance herself insists, she’s no Joni Mitchell — the songs are closer to raw talking
Snoop Dogg, From tha Streets 2 tha Suites (Doggystyle)
Snoop Dogg has been prolific over the past decade, dropping a whopping 11 albums, both solo and collaborative. Released on 4/20, From tha Streets 2 tha Suites is a low-stakes effort with plenty to offer. There are no star-studded features or producers this time around, nor a bloated track list. Instead, Doggy Dogg keeps it simple, working with all but 10 beatmakers over the project’s 10 tracks to create some steady G-Funk slappers. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. This is Snoop’s best body of work since 2015’s BUSH. 7/10 Trial Track: “Roaches in My Ashtray” (feat. ProHoeZak) (Mr. Wavvy)
Lil Yachty, Michigan Boy Boat (Quality Control/Motown) Detroit has been slowly rising as one of hip hop’s most intriguing scenes. Lil Yachty, an Atlanta native who calls Michigan his second home, pays a tasteful tribute to the Midwest on his latest mixtape. The nautically-named lyricist is far from a culture vulture, bringing Detroit greats like Tee Grizzley and YN Jay along for the ride. Michigan
Boy Boat is a wickedly fun project that you will probably forget about within a day of listening to it. There is nothing inherently bad about it, yet nothing striking enough for it to have replay value. 6.5/10 Trial Trak: “Dynamic Duo” (feat. Tee Grizzley) (Mr. Wavvy)