Anya M. Wassenberg's Blog: Art & Culture Maven, page 40
September 15, 2020
Electro-acoustic singer-songwriter: Dan Tuffy - Letters of Gold (Independent / 24 April 2020)
Dan Tuffy - Letters of Gold
(Independent / 24 April 2020) Stream It On Spotify
There's an organic, acoustic feel to Dan Tuffy's Letters of Gold, even where he introduces electronic effects. That kind of seamless synthesis is just the point.
His music is rhythmic, with the emphasis on his nuanced and expressive vocals, and the words he's singing. From Can't Contain My Feeling,
Snow fell at daylight
My eyelids fluttered...
He talks about the album in a media release.
"What's vital to me about this album is our success at welding electronic and organic sounds together in a way that supports the songs/themes you hear. I'm very happy about the sonic world we have created and how it pushes the boundaries of the roots/songwriter genre."
He has an intimate sound. It's evocative and poetic in effect. A sense of urgency comes fromthe rhythm. Often the electronic and electrified sounds are used for atmosphere. Here, the electric guitar keens and wails, rather than growls.
There are nicely subtle harmonies threading through each track. Honey Flow has a groove that I'd call funky folk, with the addition of keyboards.
Some tracks wander into a more traditional folk vein, like Eternity, with its classic story about growing up on the wrong side of the tracks. It's Bob Dylanesque in a straight-up confessional mode, similar in Time Stole My Angel, about every father's lament. Sandy Track is a standout with its country-bluesy feel.
If there's one critique I'd level at the recording, it's the use of an electronic drum track instead of a live drummer. It's the only element that sticks out.
Personnel: Dan Tuffy (guitars/vocals/bass/percussion/samples), Michael Turner (keys/guitars/midi-programming/electronics/percussion), Matt Walker (guitars), Judith Renkema (electric bass), Madelief van Vlijmen (double bass), Lucie Thorne (guitars/Backing vocals), Steve Gilbert (harmonica), Nick Larkins (hammond), Zlaya Loud (analogue synths)
Tracklist: 1 Can't Contain My Feeling, 2 Honey Flow, 3 Eternity, 4 Time Stole My Angel, 5 Sandy Track, 6 No Sleep Until the Work is Done, 7 Home Fires, 8 Big Man
Websites:
Official Website: www.dantuffy.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dan.tuffy
Instagram: dantuffy
Acoustic Fusion: Mark Vickness Interconnected - Interconnected (Independent / 15 September 2020)
Mark Vickness Interconnected - Interconnected
(Independent / 15 September 2020)
Interconnected is a new instrumental album of acoustic fusion by Mark Vickness and Interconnected - with the album of the same name.
The album contains four solo pieces and four new original pieces for the ensemble that includes two time Grammy winning violinist, Mads Tolling, cellist Joseph Hebert, Dan Feiszli on upright and electric bass and tabla virtuoso, Ty Burhoe. Known for his fingerpicking guitar style, Vickness gets percussive as well as melodic sounds from the guitar.Three videos have been released so far.
Interwoven is a piece that begins with acoustic guitar and mournful cello. Gradually, those layers are overlaid with a violin and then tabla. The play of melodies and rhythms is absorbing. Is it neoclassical, or classical crossover - it doesn't matter.
Hot Apple Stuff was created for the Tiny Desk Competition 2020. In it, the ensemble creates sonically intriguing layers that build on each other rhythmically and harmonically.
It's quite hypnotic in nature, keeping it fresh in a series of harmonic changes
Vickness talks about the project in a media release.
"The music on this recording is intended to convey Interconnectedness, the reality that we live in an interconnected, interdependent world, that we are all one human race. Instrumental music is an ideal means of expressing this because it is a universal language. This ensemble is comprised of musicians who are capable of a wide range of styles from different cultures and different eras.
"I worked hard to write this music with interconnectedness in mind, within each piece individually and in the relationships between the pieces themselves. Some of the pieces on Interconnected come from a deeply personal place. For Every Child was written for every person who has either experienced or known someone who has gone through the trauma of losing their innocence to childhood sexual abuse as I did before age ten. One Day Over A Thousand is dedicated to all those who lost their lives to Covid-19, and to my dear friend Holli Ross, who died while this piece was being written."
Personnel: Mark Vickness/guitars, Mads Tolling/violin, Joseph Hebert/cello, Dan Feiszli/bass, Ty Burhoe/tabla
The one thing that's not clear is where you can get or hear the album in its entirety, but you can follow his website and socials to stay updated (see below).
Grey Skye is a piece for solo acoustic guitar that explores a sombre theme through several variations. The B/W video adds to the effect.
Tracklist:
1. Interwoven
2. Grey Skye
3. Hot Apple Stuff/Studio version
4. Bodega Blue
5. 6 in 7
6. Mia Lucia
7. For Every Child
8. Hot Apple Stuff/Live version
9. One Day Over A Thousand
Websites:
Official Website: markvickness.com
Facebook: facebook.com/mark.vickness
Youtube Channel: Mark Vickness
Contemporary Americana: Eric Anders and Mark O'Bitz - American Bardo (Baggage Room Records / 30 July 2020)
Eric Anders and Mark O'Bitz - American Bardo
(Baggage Room Records / 30 July 2020) Stream it on Spotify
Neocountry, or contemporary Americana, with a minimalist aesthetic and a penchant for a guitar that sounds ghostly and full of echoes, the sound created by Eric Anders and Mark O'Bitz is hard to pin down into today's streaming slots.
I liked the effect on Masterbloomfight (Revisited) with its lost highway guitar and vocals in a melodic tenor that sings over a sparse drum beat. Bury Me has lovely harmonies between the strings and acoustic guitar, with electric guitar that makes its way in later, once the mood has been set.
Northern Californian singer-songwriter, Eric Anders, and southern Californian guitarist-composer, Mark O'Bitz are veterans of the music business in Cali. American Bardo was inspired by the book Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders (who won the Mann Booker Prize for it). Eric, who wrote all the songs along with Mark, says the tracks all represent "readings" of the various characters in the novel.
Without knowing the literary reference, you'd assume that the lyrics cover familiar romantic territory with interesting exceptions - like Old Theory of Love, where he waxes eruditely on Aristophanes. The song, featuring piano and a prominent drum line, ventures into psychedelic territory.
A Home that I Can't Know introduces the slide guitar. Even in a minimalist mode, there is a nice feel for instrumentation and tonal colours. Holding Will reminded me of melodic CSNY 70s folk pop. The duo has a gift for crafting songs in a mesmerizing country - folk - rock blend. Haunting Abraham, despite the title, is an upbeat track, at least musically speaking. And One Love is a standout track with its snarling guitars and churchy organ in a bluesy rhythm.
The California-based duo keep it interesting on this, their third release together.
Tracklisting:
Matterbloomlight (Revisited)
Bury Me
My Love
A Home the I Can't Know
Old Theory of Love
Holding Will
Haunting Abraham
Judgment Day
And One Love
Life's Beauty Won
Bardo Cons
Won't Live It Down
Members/Instruments: Eric Anders - Vocals, Mark O'Bitz - Backing Vocals, Guitars, Keys
Artist Website: www.AndersObitz.com
September 13, 2020
#TIFF2020: For The Love Of Short Films - Short Cuts Programme #3
For The Love Of Short Films
Short Cuts Programme #3 Check it out from 6pm today
Short Cuts Programme 03 (2020)
Short Cuts, Drama, Life Experiences, Women In Film, Canadian • 1h 36m • Canada, France, Senegal, United States
Short films have to capture a key moment in an ongoing story, which is what the seven films in this programme do well. In each story, the characters face a pivotal situation.
You'll also get roundtable talks about the films, and other video material to complete your film festival experience.
Benjamin, Benny, Ben - courtesy of TIFF 2020The Archivists
Director Igor Drljaca
Noah Reid, Bahia Watson, and Maxwell McCabe-Lokos star in this Canadian film about keeping the past alive in a dystopian future. It was shot in 16mm, and delivers a message about the ghosts of the past.
Benjamin, Benny, Ben
Director Paul Shkordoff
A young man is on his way to a job interview. Intense and anxious, his journey begins to unravel. I recognized good old Hamilton, Ontario as the filming location for this atmospheric and absorbing short.
Navozande, the musician
Director Reza Riahi
This lovely animated short is by Reza Riahi, a painter and filmmaker. She works in paper-cut animation for this story that takes place in 13th century Persia. Beautifully drawn and observed, the story revolves around a musician who stirs up unhappy memories of the Mongol invasion.
Sër Bi
Director Moly Kane
Senegalese director Moly Kane centres this story around a bride-to-be who looks dubious about her coming marriage, even as all the women sing her praises. The lead actress truly inhabits the role of a young woman looking to break the ties of tradition and family - and finding it a difficult path.
Sër Bi by Moly Kane - Courtesy of TIFF 2020Rules for Werewolves
Director Jeremy Schaulin-Rioux
Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things) and Kelcey Mawema (To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before) star in this thriller that takes us into an enigmatic story inside a story as teens break into a mansion and stories are told.
RKLSS
Director Tank Standing Buffalo
Gorgeously animated, and starkly disturbing, this film delves into the director's lifestory, focusing on his experiences as a young offender in custody. Self taught animator Tank Standing Buffalo has crafted a clear-eyed look into a kid's descent into a world of violence and mental illness...and the key to his way out.
RKLSS by Tank Standing Buffalo - Courtesy of TIFF 2020Dustin
Director Naïla Guiguet
Transgender DJ and model Dustin Muchuvitz, embodies the vulnerabilities of the title character. The film follows a group of friends at a warehouse party and the aftermath, and asks the question, if you are on a journey of transformation, can everyone else keep up?
September 6, 2020
So You Can't Go: Six Ways To Travel Virtually
Six Ways To Travel Virtually
Travel is limited for most of us in the world these days. For Canadians, it depends on the province you live in, but with the border to the US still closed, and other options limited at best, virtual travel from the couch can provide at least a view with a difference at a time when you may well need it most.
VR Dream by Enrique Meseguer from PixabayGoogle Cardboard – VR On A BudgetYou don't need a lot of cash to get into travel via virtual reality. Google Cardboard is a line of VR viewers that are, well, made of cardboard, and are priced starting at $12CAD.
If you check out this link, you'll find out how to download the software to your smartphone.At this link, you can get yourself an actual Google Cardboard for a hands-free VR experience.Google Cardboard apps offer a variety of ways to experience our beautiful planet, including Google Earth itself, which can take you anywhere, along with apps to view museums and cultural artifacts, and more.
Ascape VRAscape has a huge library of travel apps, with 360° video production. It's free for iOS and Android smartphones, and will give you any kind of adventure you want, from swimming with dolphins to walking with a herd of zebras, skydiving and extreme sports, and much more.
Sites in VRThis free app for iOS and Android lets you go on excursions to the world's most fabulous museums and landmarks, along with a range of natural areas and parks. You'll find castles, religious sites, ruins, forests and jungles, famous parks, and more, all filmed in panoramic 360° video.
VR Sketch by Ventus17 from PixabayIf Disney's Your ThingIf Disney theme parks and crazy rides are your travel thing, you can get a taste of the experience at the Virtual Disney YouTube channel. There's a wide selection to choose from in 360° video, so you can get the experience from all angles.
Miss The Airport?Even if you fly, you may not be traveling first class all the time (or any of the time). Emirates Airlines lets you tour the luxe accommodations available on the A380 liner and other aircraft, which includes a sleek lounge area for cocktails along with the spacious seating.
A Taste Of The TropicsYouTube offers a wealth of 360° travel videos, like the channel linked in the subtitle. It features several travel videos, including a tour of the Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa’s underwater bungalows and other exotic tropical locales. We can still dream...
Electro/Dance/Rock - Les Techno: Flowers for Dystopia (Solid Bass Records / July 31, 2020)
Les Techno: Flowers for Dystopia
(Solid Bass Records / July 31, 2020)Stream It On Spotify
Flowers for Dystopia, by New York City based Les Techno, is full of stick-in-your-head hooks and enigmatic lyrics. Les Techno blends genres, electronics and live instrumentals for a sound that's thoroughly contemporary - albeit with a tip of the hat to the past.
Techno has a great feel for songwriting in a nutshell, with all the tracks coming in at under 4 minutes. He lists Bowie, Psychedelic Furs and others as influences in his media, but I'm hearing 1970s era radio pop as well - with a modern electronic edge - and tracks like Come Along are reminiscent of Freddie Goes To Hollywood's iconic dance track, Relax, Don't Do It.
He calls himself a post-punk electronic rocker, and blends rock guitar sounds, electronics, hip hop beats, and live bass. He talked about the title track in a media release.
"This song came in a dream. I dreamt the live band was on stage at some dingy east village club, and I walked onto the stage, came to the mic and announced "Objects!... Objects!... Objects!" and then I heard the underlying guitar riff that starts the song."
Edge of the World fuses synth pop and guitar-heavy dance rock. Is It Real is a stand out track, with an interesting rhythm and chord changes, and eerily reverbed vocals that add an angsty dimension.
Along with his work as a musician, Les is a studio veteran who has worked on creating tracks and mixes for industry greats in a variety of genres from Run-DMC (Profile) and Mobb Deep (Loud/RCA), to Georgie Blacks ("Kickup Unwine", RCA), and dance remixes for Red Hot Chili Peppers ("Higher Ground").
Les on What ya Done:
"This one started as the music in the chorus, the chords, vocal melody and the synth line going around my head while I was standing at a bus stop. So I ducked into a doorway and sang the parts into my phone and the track came together. The lyrics came after that after reading about how young billionaires prepare for Armageddon. You'd think they would spend their money preventing it, right ? The guitar lead was simply a late-night visitation from the spirits. Maybe the best 5 notes I've ever played."
Les Techno Online:
Website https://les-techno.com/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lestechno/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/les__techno__music/Twitter https://twitter.com/LesTechno_musicSoundcloud https://soundcloud.com/user-515199387/Youtube Channel
COVID-19 And The Restaurant Industry: What Happens When Winter Comes?
What Happens When Winter Comes?
The travel and hospitality industries have taken a huge hit in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, one of the bright spots to emerge has been the public's immediate acceptance of outdoor dining as soon as the worst of the restrictions was lifted.
Outdoor restaurant (Image by Positive Images of Pixabay)Even for places like New York City, which rely to an enormous extent on tourist dollars, it was a lifeline to a struggling restaurant industry.
But, what happens across North America now that temperatures are getting colder?
Jason Kaplan, CEO of the New-York based restaurant consulting group JK Consulting, is quoted by CNN. "Everybody is scared of the winter right now," he said. "[They are] still losing money, regardless of delivery and takeout and outdoor dining, they're still not being profitable. And they're still having problems paying rent."
In some areas, like NYC, indoor dining is still banned. In others, some indoor dining is allowed, but the social distancing regulations make it extremely difficult for restaurants to just break even.
Prolonging The SeasonThe first line of defence seems to be offense - i.e. trying to make the possibility of outdoor dining last as long as possible. Measures taken by some restaurants include:
Strategically placed outdoor heaters;Well placed rows of shrubbery or ornamentation that blocks the wind;Making sure tables and chairs are made of suitable materials - i.e. not metal, which feels cold to the touch;Offering lap blankets for use (and laundering them after each use);Glass or plexiglass panels to block winds.In temperate zones, a covered patio roof can be a viable solution for nearly the whole season.
Government programs that offer payroll relief are another important step in enabling the restaurant industry to weather the pandemic.
Image by Candid Shots of pexelsWe In The North
“We in the north have a problem ahead, and it’s called winter.”
The words come from Avery Shenfeld, managing director and chief economist of CIBC Capital Markets. According to Reuters, the Canadian food service industry has lost about 400,000 jobs because of the virus and its effects, which translates into losses of almost $45 billion overall year over year.
Janet Zuccarini is owner and chief executive of Gusto 54, a company that owns several restaurants in Toronto. She reports buying heaters for expanded patios.
“You’re not looking to make money during the pandemic, you’re looking to survive,” she said to Reuters. “The bar is set pretty low right now. ... The pandemic has really exposed the weakness in this industry.”
Winter OptionsIn Canada and other northern areas where winter is serious business, the situation places even more emphasis on takeout, delivery, and curbside pick-up.
That will build on the trend that already began this year. According to a survey by Upserve, as of July, Canadian restaurants had seen a “782.7% increase in Online Order sales volume growth.”
The Upserve report also warns the industry to lean into the online ordering environment. “It’s key that restaurants find an online ordering solution that works for their customers by the fall,” the report said.
Increasing delivery costs might be in order to help offset the necessary changes.
New Single: Patrick Ames - You Make Me Scream (Independent / 19 August 2020)
Patrick Ames - You Make Me Scream
(Independent / 19 August 2020) Stream it on Spotify
"You Make Me Scream (YMMS) is dance music. After a year writing serious songs and protest songs about our country and the politics, and experimenting around on the edge of folk and other genres, I just wanted to dance. And in the middle of the Pandemic, after months of quarantines and isolation, I wanted to dance."
The latest single from Patrick Ames is three minutes of fun - a dance tune for the pandemic, let's say - with an irresistible beat and vocals that intertwine above it. The addition of harmony vocals adds another dimension to the song.
Patrick talks about it in a media release.
"There is nothing music does better than make people dance. At one early point in the song writing process, I had "You make me scream, democracy" and the whole point was that democracy is exasperating. But the symbiosis between systems of government and funk music just didn't jive, so I went back to "so tenderly" instead of "democracy". And that's as close to serious that I got."
Websites:
Website http://www.patrickames.com/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2patrickames/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/patrickames/Twitter https://twitter.com/patrickamesSoundcloud https://soundcloud.com/patrickames/Youtube ChannelPersonnel:
Patrick Ames, vocals, rhythm guitars; Chana Matthews, vocals; Mikaela Matthews, vocals
August 20, 2020
Pop EP: Anya Mia - Looking for Heaven's Ghost (Independent / July 4, 2020)
Anya Mia - Looking for Heaven's Ghost
(Independent / July 4, 2020)
Anya Mia is me - my performing name, and my name as a recording artist. My debut EP as a singer and songwriter is an eclectic mix of everything from a piano ballad to retro rock to reggae-ish.
I studied the flute and played guitar as a teenager. I wrote my own songs (two of which appear on this EP - Never Coming Home and the title track, Looking for Heaven's Ghost). Then I married a musician...and dropped my own music for decades.
It's a pretty familiar story.
Light of Day - a video I created myself:
But, I'd say the music has been all the sweeter for taking it up again later in life. I've gotten together with some terrific local musicians to put it together.
Play it on the Spotify player below, or stream/buy it from your favourite service at this link.
Pop EP: Anya Mia - Looking for Heaven's Ghost (Indepedent / July 4, 2020)
Anya Mia - Looking for Heaven's Ghost
(Independent / July 4, 2020)
Anya Mia is me - my performing name, and my name as a recording artist. My debut EP as a singer and songwriter is an eclectic mix of everything from a piano ballad to retro rock to reggae-ish.
I studied the flute and played guitar as a teenager. I wrote my own songs (two of which appear on this EP - Never Coming Home and the title track, Looking for Heaven's Ghost). Then I married a musician...and dropped my own music for decades.
It's a pretty familiar story.
Light of Day - a video I created myself:
But, I'd say the music has been all the sweeter for taking it up again later in life. I've gotten together with some terrific local musicians to put it together.
Play it on the Spotify player below, or stream/buy it from your favourite service at this link.
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