Something in the world has shifted because yet again I am finding myself setting aside the mastery of electric guitars and songs for slower, seemingly simpler sounds, such as those of the folk band Uniform Motion. While we miss out on their rock art concept of sketches and soundscapes created during live performance, we still manage to experience a layer of unfamiliar, emotional imagery not yet touched upon by the majority of folk artists. The acoustic guitar is doused with melodies reminiscent of Jose Gonzalez, yet the intimately wispy vocals are unique.

This album, rightly titled Pictures, sends us visions of both broken sunlight and dripping rain, heavy flowers and weightless walkways. It’s as if we’ve reached the end of the world, and these guys are here to unassumingly express what’s happening all around us: circular pain and hope. Regardless of one’s endeavors Pictures is a brilliant accomplice to a pensive existence, best enjoyed while lying on the floor in the middle of the night in the dark, waiting for the light to come in.

Download: “Fathers Of Our Homeland” by Uniform Motion

Download: “The Pen Fallacy” by Uniform Motion

Aaahh Records [Digital LP, 2010]

1. Earthly Diamond
2. Rain And Soil
3. The Pen Fallacy
4. Citizen Grave
5. Cast Iron
6. Fathers Of Our Homeland
7. Falling Off Trees
8. Selling Pictures

It’s been one of those lives. We seem incapable of escaping our never-ending days and too-short nights. We are in agreement with the Mad Hatter on this one, as time won’t do a thing we ask. Suddenly, we’ve stopped. We’re sitting. We’re staring. Only in thoughtless meditation could we possibly become refreshed enough to carry on, and Entertainment for the Braindead’s latest album Roadkill allows us to do just that. Julia Kotowski’s intricately delicate melodies float in and around you, leaving you just enough room to sigh deeply and trust that the ethereal music will do you good. The eclectic blend of swift instruments lends itself to light strumming and even daintier vocals. Her fragile songs free us from many folk artists these days as rather than being smothered into profuse listening we are swept into a place of healing. Our time ceases to matter, and the true time, the kairos of our universe, seems ripe to cover us while singing breezes of banjos and tambourines gently lull us to rest. A deeply rejuvenating creation with dewy lifts and lilts, Roadkill is easily the most necessary album for bringing us into spring.

Download: “Roadkill” by Entertainment For The Braindead

Download: “Wasteland” by Entertainment For The Braindead

Aaahh Records [Digital LP, 2010]

1. Sirens #1
2. Roadkill
3. Dry Wood
4. Wastelands
5. Relapse
6. Patience
7. Vertigo
8. Pirates
9. When We Were Young
10. Sirens #2

Liza and Tom are back again! Yes, British Columbia’s finest boy/girl folk/pop The Wind Whistles have blessed us with yet another collection of seriously fun tracks that are nothing short of delightful. But, Animals Are People Too shall ring a bell with a pitch very different from their debut album, Window Sills. It is safe to say they have stepped their game up. Or at least taken it in a different, possibly four legged, direction.

Though the title of this frenzy-inducing pop album may indicate the idea of being a concept piece, it really isn’t. It is a true work of poppy goodness though. Our friends have taken their temp to a more lighthearted speed than heard on their prior work (which is equally as impressive, just different). The electrically enhanced “The Quietest Voice” is catchy and awe inspiring. But, it is “Turtle” that shines the brightest without a doubt.

The Wind Whistles have been tirelessly spouting out their terms of endearment across the globe. With endless tours and albums free to download (including this one), it is apparent that they do it solely for the sake of their art. And with this mindset, comes some of the finest examples of pure down-home pop music that rides along the ocean tide of perfections. It’s very hard to not love such an ambiguously triumphant duo.

The Wind Whistles: The Quietest Voice [mp3]

The Wind Whistles: Turtle [mp3]

Aaahh Records [Digital Album, 2009]

1. Turtle
2. Judo
3. House For A Mouse
4. Art And Work
5. The Quietest Voice
6. Bats In Flight
7. Making Your Own Stuff
8. Sleeping Lions
9. The Fish And The Worm
10. The Sun
11. After All
12. Spooks
13. Treehouse Lullaby

Aaahh Records is the purveyor of great folk from around the world; a netlabel whose brand consists of folk excellence in all its forms. The latest artist to join the Aaahh family is Sweden’s Emilie Lund.

Emilie Lund creates music that is pleasantly reminiscent of folk-pop masters like Sharon Van Etten, Laura Gibson, and label-mates Entertainment For The Braindead. Lund’s self-titled EP consists of five songs, all featuring soft acoustic folk and occasional orchestration.

There are plenty of favorites here, but the chart toppers, I’d argue, are “Sad Blue Mountain” and “Something Is Eating Me”. These tracks expand Lund’s music with added instrumentation, from piano and cowbell, to harmonica. Most include multiple vocal harmonies, where Emilie harmonizes with herself.

The Aaahh Records site notes that Lund is a big fan of artists like Nick Drake and Coco Rosie, and it shows throughout her EP.

Emilie Lund: Sad Blue Mountain [mp3]

Emilie Lund: Something Is Eating Me [mp3]

Aaahh Records [Digital EP, 2009]

1. Childhood Friend
2. Sad Blue Mountain
3. Getting Late
4. Rewind
5. Something Is Eating Me

In the last Entertainment For The Braindead release, Hydrophobia, it was decided, sans any sort of competent research, that Julia Kotowski created clever electronic folk music. But I stood corrected. It is only seemingly electronic, a swirling of various effects; instead, the music consists of random homemade instruments (“paper bins and pepper mills”), the beautiful feminine voice of Kotowski, and an array of instruments Kotowski taught herself.

Her latest endeavor is a tour EP titled Seven (+1), again on Aaahh Records. And again Entertainment For The Braindead delivers loving folk tunes that include a plethora of various effects, like paper ripping in opening track “Paper”. Kotowski, who (to my knowledge) plays all instruments on the album, picks up the flute on “Souvenirs” while “It Flew Away” has one of the more intriguing guitar melodies and vocal styling of any EFTB songs. Where “Animals” finds Kotowski stacking several vocal parts, she’s not above dabbling in the instrumental, as heard in “Then It Started Speaking To Me”.

Seven (+1) was originally a highly limited physical release with only seven copies. Entertainment For The Braindead gave one away at each show in her tour supporting Hydrophobia. Thankfully, Aaahh Records has now made it available for any and all who are interested.

Entertainment For The Braindead: It Flew Away [mp3]

Entertainment For The Braindead: Paper [mp3]

Aerotone Records [Digital EP, 2009]

1. Paper
2. Souvenirs
3. It Flew Away
4. Skin
5. Spiders
6. Then It Started Speaking To Me
7. Animals
8. Mi Corazón (Live)

Written by Ron Trembath

The Wind Whistles, composed of Vancouver’s folk duo Tom Prilesky and Liza Moser, bring out a fresh look at modern folk rock in their stellar release, Window Sill. With a happy attitude, and the musical stamina of a grizzly bear, these two wonderful wordsmiths mix the good ole old, with the newest of the new.

Storytelling is crucial in any form of folk rock. And these two hit it perfect on “Jim & Ruth” and “Ballad of A Jailbreak Wedding”. Prilesky’s high pitched, Neil Young-ish twang offers a much liked melody throughout the album, and when they break it down on a track like “Coming Back”, it’s hard to not feel like an empty rocking chair on a windy night – hopeless by the powers that be. Best of all though, would have to be “Good Friends Won’t Rip You Off”, which sounds like a precarious poke in the side to money hungry Americans.

It’s hard to resist the euphoric simplicity that The Wind Whistles create. In a time where confusion is masterful, this eccentric twosome takes a break from the weird, and asks you to relax. So swallow down a fresh glass of lemonade and bourbon, and check out Window Sill (available for download from their label, linked below). It’s what they would want. And you can bet on the fact that Tom & Liza, as well as your strained ear drums, would be sure to thank you.

The Wind Whistles: Coming Back [mp3]

The Wind Whistles: Good Friends Won’t Rib You Off [mp3]

Aaahh Records [mp3 Album, 2008]

1. Gold Fever
2. Communication’s Death
3. Jim & Ruth
4. Devil’s Cauldron
5. Man by Name of Denver
6. Coming Back
7. Somedays
8. Where Does The Garbage Go?
9. Good Friends Won’t Rip You Off
10. River
11. Ballad of A Jailbreak Wedding
12. When I Was Old

Written by Ron Trembath

It is so refreshing to discover an indie-core band with a positive attitude. Manchester’s Keyboard Rebel hit it hard with uplifting prose over catchy bass lines. Pop Grenade is a not only a clever title, but a descriptor for the genre these low-key monarchs have attempted to produce. Splendid pop music busts through the tattooed walls and boot cut jean pillars of the rock n roll underground.

The actual keyboard of Keyboard Rebel comes out best on the hook heavy “Monedo”. The rebel commences on the 50′s sounding bouncy cut “Abigail”. They dare to turn what could be a Happy Days dance track into a vengeful display of hatred for those who have wronged. Very Ramone-esque! Also see “Small & Round” for reference.

Pop Grenade (available for download at Aaahh Records) is by no means perfect in nature. Some hedges seem to be unintentionally left untrimmed. But, it is damn close to perfect. Elements of fun fused with pain create a dreamy like concoction of great indie pleasure. Surely it’s not one to be missed. It does seem easy to believe that Keyboard Rebel will be somebody’s favorite band in the near future. Maybe you?

Keyboard Rebel: Mondeo [mp3]

Keyboard Rebel: Abigail [mp3]

Aaahh Records [mp3 album, 2008]

1. My Lordship
2. Northern Sherpa
3. Mondeo
4. Golden Opportunity
5. Abigail
6. Lonesome George
7. Pop Grenade
8. Small & Round
9. Forest Song
10. Justice
11. So Cavalier