UWUW, Bonnie Trash, and Lee Paradise
UWUW
S/T // We Are Busy Bodies
Toronto’s super group UWUW (pronounced you-you) are here to captivate you with their indie retro-soul sound. Their self-titled debut album was released in late October of 2022 on We Are Busy Bodies Record and it has a lot to offer. The sounds, the melodies and arrangements are meant to represent “nature reaping what is sowed” says Drew Smith, one of the group’s two songwriters and vocalists.
Let’s find out a bit more about UWUW. The members are Jason Haberman, Jay Anderson, Ian Blurton, Chris A. Cummings and Drew Smith; and together they have vast experience writing and performing with well known Canadian musical acts such as Dan Mangan, Biblical and Change of Heart, to mention a couple. The band came into being when Jay and Ian ended up backing their mutual friend for a few live shows as a drummer and guitarist, respectively. Shortly after playing together they discovered how well they connected musically and decided to start working on something new, something big. The result is a dynamic and sonically attractive album that will please your ears.
The sonic landscape in this record has a mystic vibe, a good balance between experimental, indie-pop and old school soul. The instrumentation in these four songs is constantly morphing into new grooves accompanied by the pounding rhythms and thoughtful lyrics. The opening track, Scattered Ashes, starts with elements of early funk and rock with catchy horns and guitars that evolve into an eclectic and powerful song that will hypnotize you. “Staircase To The End Of The Night”, the second track, is an evolving combination of instruments that grabs your attention from the second it begins. The horn and string arrangements make the composition in this song almost symphonic but the drums and guitars bring you right back to remind you of the band’s rock energy. The other two songs are waiting for you to be experienced and they will not disappoint.
Now is your turn to listen to the rest of UWUW’s debut LP and get lost in their musical creation. The record is available on all the musical platforms.
- Fel Gamarra
Bonnie Trash
Malocchio // Hand Drawn Dracula
A fuzzy recording of Nona Maria pierces through silence while a low ambient rumble sets the tone for Malocchio, the new album from Guelph’s Bonnie Trash. Nona Maria, the grandmother of Emmalia and Sarafina Bortolon-Vettor (the twin sisters who make up Bonnie Trash) is a familiar voice for fans of Bonnie Trash. Her voice opens and closes 2017s Ezellini’s Dead and it's her stories that get shaped into Bonnie Trash’ music. Ezellini’s Dead shared the myth of Ezellini, a once merciless ruler of Nona Maria’s mother region in Italy who would purportedly cannibalise his people as a display of power. On their new album the Bortolon-Vettor sisters share the story of the Malocchio, a curse from their storied homeland that followed their family. Having emigrated to Canada, a death in the family incites an indefinite return to Italy for Maria where her family is cursed. After efforts to rid themselves of the curse and several dark and mystic encounters Maria realises she must return to Canada before the curse takes her family.
The record’s sonic tone and mood certainly sets the scene with a patient dark sound. The Bortolon-Vettor sisters are very controlled in their songwriting throughout Malocchio. Each song takes its time letting tension build, spacing in open moments for breath before crashing back down. A much more sprawling approach than the driving rhythms of Ezzelini’s Dead. There is a certain cathartic aspect in the repetition. An almost drone like quality that almost becomes a theme in itself. These drones flourish in each track’s climax as the band’s shoegaze influence takes over favouring expansive lush tones. The drones extend on a broader motif of minimalism displayed throughout Bonnie Trash’ latest effort.
While Nona Maria’s stories provide an entertaining lyrical basis full of gripping themes like the paranormal, mythical characters and folkore, it’s much more for Bonnie Trash. It's a preservation of heritage through art. They are stories orally passed down generations that have become more and more rare. Even the Veneto Dialect spoken on the album by Nona Maria is a dying dialect. Sadly, Nona Maria passed earlier this year but the Bortolon-Vettor sisters can be proud that through their art her legacy, along with their culture lives on and is celebrated.
After nearly a decade as a band Bonnie Trash have released their long awaited debut full-length, their first with Toronto label Hand Drawn Dracula. Malocchio displays a more refined, concise Bonnie Trash. Tighter minimalistic songwriting is made huge with Emmalia’s captivating guitar work, Sarafina’s gripping lyrical content and crisp production. It's a haunting homage to heritage that will leave the listener wondering if Bonnie Trash has cast the Malocchio onto them.
- Kennedy Pawluk
Lee Paradise
Lee Paradise & Co. // Telephone Explosion Records
Travel is in the air, and snowbirds and temperature-adverse people flock to warmer horizons as the snow falls across North America. A mixed bunch queued with me, waiting for our 10:30 pm flight to Hanoi, Vietnam, in polite anticipation for our exodus from this tundra. While on my way, I had the good fortune of being joined by a top-notch new Canadian release that was a fine accompaniment during my time 10,000 ft above the pacific. I’m happy to share with the Cups N Cakes Network the latest release from Toronto’s Dan Lee, aka Lee Paradise (also of Phèdre), and the highly-collaborative album Lee Paradise & Co. is out via Telephone Explosion Records.
This new record from Dan Lee finds him switching up their musical style from that presented on the 2020 release, The Fink (supported by Pitchfork, Electronic Sound, FLOOD, Exclaim and more). The new record finds Dan Lee in producer mode, veering away from pursuing a particular musical direction rooted in personal vision towards a process rich in collaboration, emotional expansion and tonal exploration.
The track “Cement” is identifiable by an infectious arpeggiated synth that immediately invites the listener to take a journey with Lee Paradise. The song has a beat that doesn’t let up and is sure to be a dancefloor favourite. The vocals provided on this song feature Scott Hardware adding an excellent additional element, a catchy chorus where you can’t get enough.
The new record began as a set of mood-focused instrumental sketches drafted by Dan; the compositions began colouring themselves after he sent the tracks out to collaborators, asking them to contribute without much direction or intention. With help from an ensemble cast of artists, including Carlyn Bezic (Jane Inc.), Jonathan Pappo (Scott Hardware, No Frills, Ducks Ltd), Scott Hardware, Isla Craig, Victoria Cheong (New Chance), Jay Anderson, Charise Aragoza & Lukas Cheung (Mother Tongues) and Daniel Woodhead (Moon King), nearly every aspect of this album’s creation eventually became open to collaboration, from musical performances, lyric writing, and vocals through to mixing and mastering.
Lee Paradise & Co. is the sound of an expert producer and sound sculptor conceding to the elusive flows of inspiration, knocking genre conventions askew and hopscotching between various styles, musical identities and good worlds with absolute panache. This new record is a great listen and a fine choice for anyone who likes synth-focused indie rock.
- Earl D
