SPRING 2025: ada lea, s.h.i.t., amir amiri ensemble, closetjudas
Ada Lea -
Notes EP
(Next Door Records)
Release Date: Oct. 4th, 2024
Montreal singer and avid songwriter Ada Lea resurfaces with "Notes", title taken from her process of writing many, many lyrics on notes and scraps of papers everywhere before committing them.. The soft child-like innocence of Lea's voice and sound is extremely comforting, like a cozy blanket on a chilly winter day. At times though, she sounds like a seasoned singer of the likes of Elle Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday touting to us that she could very well be a very good Jazz singer. Most refrains are accompanied with faint instrumental nuances keeping the velvety cadence throughout.
- Martin R
S.H.I.T. -
For A Better World
(Iron Lung Records)
Release Date: Oct. 18th, 2024
An abrasive and infuriating blast of thrashy hardcore, meeting all of your angst and society resenting needs. S.H.I.T. melds old and new school hardcore for only the healthiest of results, not stopping short of saying how they feel, S.H.I.T. is a classic punk band in the sense that they're not afraid to speak their minds, and make your local politician scared to sleep at night.
- Mackenzie
Amir Amiri Ensemble
ajdad - Ancestors - Echoes of Persia
(Latitude 45)
Release Date: Nov. 1st, 2025
Ancestors - Echoes of Persia" takes listeners on a musical journey to a different location and era (Persia / Iran). Well orchestrated, complex melodies and intricate musical arrangements, it is as gentle as it is soothing. Santoor player, composer, and cultural inventor Amir Amiri Ensemble does it very well!
- Nathan Gudmundson
Various Artists
Essentials Compilation 3
(Substation Records)
Release Date: Dec. 2nd, 2024
Six tracks from top techno artists Minor Sine Project, Tyrek, Sergio SP, Super/polite, LOPØLO, and Angel Science. This is immersive and sometimes subversive techno. Taking us right into the Canadian electronic music world. These tracks are all very unique ranging from astral techtronic to trance like elements and even some techno-dnb. Inspired themes like cordyceps (medicinal mushrooms), witchcraft and Basque sorrow will throw you around but always leave you in a nice well balanced vibe.
- Martin R
closetjudas - sonder (Self-Released)
Release Date: Nov. 15th, 2024
closetjudas' songs are written, recorded and produced by Mike Powell a Mississauga Ontario native who now resides in Winnipeg Manitoba. The album 'sonder' opens with a short story written by Powell and recited by Irish philosopher Peter Rollins. What follows is six post grunge/punk leaning songs each with lots of fuzz and nihilistic lyrics, One standout track is the seven minute plus closer; sonder/leaving, presently II. An excellent album that only gets better with repeated plays, 4.5outta5. As a side note Powell is a not for profit artist who prefers that fans of his music give donations to Tiny Changes, a Scotland based charity who helps youth with mental health issues, over giving him money.
- Jason Isaac