New Music Roundup: The East Pointers, Glitter Party, INSIDIUS, and more.
Photo credit: Glitter Party - Sameer Cash
Days are getting warmer, and new releases have been hot! This week's roundup explores daytime heat exhaustion backed by rail-riding nights. From Calgarians declaring the popularity of riddim to artists from out east taking on a tour of the United Kingdom, this scene knows how to keep us on our toes. Also, three of this week’s selected artists hail from Alberta proving just how versatile the energy province is. Stay cool, and remember to follow along with these tracks on our Sounds of Reverie playlist on Spotify to get the full experience.
Surfacing from the underground riddim scene of Calgary, AB, masked-DJ INSIDIUS has been on a roll with dropping new tracks. Most recently, his single released on May 23 titled “Iron Waste” is an industrial nightmare backed by hypnotic basslines. The track builds a constant state of panic, and the distorted vocals are straight out of the underworld. This single, alongside “CLOAK OF THORNS” and “False Burial” captivate his insistent and demanding sound. But his warpath doesn’t stop there. INSIDIUS is part of the core group that is legitimizing riddim in Calgary, and he is making a festival appearance with Bass Asylum at this year’s Bass Barn from June 20-22. His production and live-chopping is relentless, and we can’t help but tune in.
The East Pointers surprised us by dropping “Undercover” on May 16. The JUNO award-winners from Prince Edward Island continue to modernize the world of contemporary folk music. In “Undercover,” you hear a catchy and repetitive chord progression that is bridged by a simple acoustic riff. The vocals are simple yet elegantly layered, and the cowboy-accent inches them to the border of country folk. The whole track remains upbeat, as most of their releases do, and could fit seamlessly into the background of an indie coming-of-age movie. This song marks their last release before going into their month-long tour around Scotland and England. Though we miss them here in Canada, we are thrilled to see them travelling the world and spreading their feel-good infused music.
The solo project of Toronto’s Sam Cohen, Glitter Party, is on our radar this week with the release of “Burn” on May 23. Album art is also Canadian, with photo credits going to Austen Ambraska from Toronto. The track itself is a collaboration with indie pop artist Benja, and it bleeds with late-summer nostalgia. Acoustic finger-picking carries the melody, but is complemented by the soft swooping sounds of the electric guitar. Both men sing of painful healing and forgiveness, but the song itself isn’t melancholic. This is an easy listen for contemplative mornings or sunset gazing. This release is just a taste of their full EP being released together on June 27.
Back in Alberta, Calgary hip-hop artist, Ricca Razor Sharp, dropped his annual album on May 16. The 18-tracks on Gemini Jams emulate his old-school sound while still exploring new avenues of creation. Songs like “Rap Flair” and “Sharp Climb” are off-kilter and loose with Ricca’s distinctive conversational flow. His jazz-inflected sound remains bouncy throughout the album, littering his songs with a youthful nature. This, alongside the quirky beats, give this album a more abstract vibe. With beats straight out of the ‘90s, and a rap style that could fit in with The Pharcyde, Ricca has managed to stay Razor Sharp after two decades of his music career.
A staple in Western Canada’s nightlife circuit, ZURGLIN is recognized for his deep bass and methodical production style. Coming from Calgary, AB, his newest release “Watagwan,” which he dropped on May 16, is just that—dark and precise. Emphasizing deep and wobbly frequencies, this track is bound to leave you with a bass-face. Produced by UK DirtySnatcha Records, the song is emblematic of early UK-dub, complete with reggaeton vocals and sludgy sub-bass. Following his successful collaboration “5D New Reality” with CONTEMPORARY VICE, a multimedia artist from Calgary, ZURGLIN hasn’t let off of the gas pedal. With numerous upcoming festival appearances this summer, ZURGLIN should be on your radar if you like your dubstep smoked out and subterranean.