Squirrel – Niagara (CD)

Squirrel was an early 90`s alternative rock band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Niagara (which came out in 1995 on Chemical Sound Recordings) is their second album (13 songs = 40.30 minutes). The lineup on this album consists of Dave Schellenberg (bass), Steve Keeping (drums), Rudy Rempel (guitar, vocals) and Bradley McInnis (guitar, vocals). I got this as a gift. I never heard Squirrel`s music before. I`m sure this album was popular when it came out in 1995. The music sounds like a crossover between indie rock / rock, grunge and noise rock. Or perhaps a jam session with the following unlikely participants Blur, Pixies, Nirvana, Bush, Green Magnet School, Shellac and Sonic Youth. A lil noise, a lil indie rock, lotsa interesting noises going on i.e. just what the doctor ordered.

Homemade postcards of the day

Christoph Heeman – aftersolstice (CD)

I got this as a gift from my good buddy Alex. This is Christoph Heeman`s second solo album. Aside from is collaboration with Merzbow the classic `sleeper awakes on the edge of the abyss` it`s my first listening experience. It took me some efforts to appreciate this album. This is abstract, drone, electronic music with some nice experimentations on the side. Here`s a brief description.

1 – Solstice 1 (2.27 minutes) = relaxing neo classical ambience with string loops / samples.

2 - IV (19.55 minutes) = a long, subtle, peaceful piece of droning ambience with some strange aural experiences happening in the background.

3 – I (20.57 minutes) = droning ambience / ambient noise / darkwave + some minimal elements here and there with some amazing processed strings / violin samples / loops.

4 – Appendix (1) (55 seconds) = a short & sweet minimal ambient conclusion. Highly recommended.                 

Timber Timbre – creep on creepin` on (CD)

The third album from this Canadian folk music band, from Brooklin, Ontario. A rather short album (10 songs = 39.28 minutes). This is not my cup of tea but after numerous listens, this album grows on me. Timber Timbre mixes folk with rock, country, acoustic, world music (at times), alternative, jazz and indie rock. There`s a couple of instrumental tracks which are my favorites, and they are

2 – Obelisk (1.53 minutes) = lo-fi, dark stoner indie / folk perhaps.

5 – Swamp magic (3.01 minutes) = dark, creepy, minimal orchestrations = recalls `2000 lights years from home` (Rolling stones), a spacey / eerie / psychedelic / head tripping / mind altering aural voyage in the land of subtle darkness. Yes, it`s that good. Some info: http://www.timbertimbre.com/

Timber Timbre – Timber Timbre (CD)

http://www.timbertimbre.com/http://www.timbertimbre.com/

I bought this CD at Renaissance Montréal for 2.00$. I thought this was electronic music, boy was I wrong here. This is a Canadian folk music band formed in 2005, from Brooklin, Ontario. I`m not much into folk music. I do enjoy Terry Lee Hale, Blind Willie McTell and Simon & Garfunkel, that`s about it. Upon the first couple of listens I discover two things; this a short album (8 tracks = 36.20 minutes) and it sounds better than I expected. The music is song oriented, mixing folk, minimalism, indie rock, lo-fi, bedroom pop with some country influences here and there. If you`re into Eric`s Trip or Julie Doiron`s various solo (or not) projects you will definitely like Timber Timbre`s subtle, introspective, minimal bedroom indie / folk music. Some info: http://www.timbertimbre.com/

Éloge de la liberté

Il n' y a personne qui va   
Me réprimer 
Me brimer  
Me dénigrer   
Me contrôler  
Me manipuler    
Me dicter  
M`émasculer  
Me maltraiter   
Me harceler    
Me censurer    
M`effacer   
Me briser 
Me torturer
Me violenter
M`enlever ma liberté de penser    
Me liberté de créer  
M`empêcher de parler   
Ruiner mon intégrité   
Essayer de me changer  
Qui es-tu pour me juger ?  

Le Renoncement

Au cours des années  
J`ai vieilli 
J`ai appris
J`ai grandi  
J`ai évolué 
J`ai gagné en maturité
La vie
Nous dirige souvent vers des chemins inexplorés
On fait de bons choix 
On fait aussi de mauvais choix
On est humain 
C`est ainsi
Au cours des années 
J`ai dû renoncer à beaucoup de choses
Pour diverses raisons
La famille
L`amitié  
Le travail
L`amour  
Vouloir être aimé à tout prix
De tous et chacun 
En m`oubliant moi-même
Se donner sans concessions 
Sans rien exiger en retour
Simplement pour le plaisir de se donner
J`ai renoncé à beaucoup de choses 
Des fois
Volontairement  
D`autres fois
Avec Pleurs et grincements de dents   
Sans jamais regarder en arrière   
Sans remords ni regrets   
Mais il y a une chose  
À laquelle je ne renoncerai jamais
D`être l`homme que je suis.