PopMatters Contributing Editor
Greetings, brothers and sisters. Like you, I’m a fan of music. I spend most of my time researching, investigating, making, and exploring music. Since 2004, my music reviews, essays, and columns have appeared in publications such as Exclaim!, Tiny Mix Tapes, PopMatters, and I’ve been a Polaris Music Prize juror since 2010. I graduated from Simon Fraser University’s Contemporary Arts program with a BFA in music in Summer 2011. I am happy to live in East Vancouver with my sketchy but sweet cat Isobel.
Features
Thursday, October 1 2009
Hey Buddy, Got a Spare Time Machine? Ask Pepe Deluxé
The day will come when Spare Time Machine is revered as the masterpiece it is by the crowd it deserves. Luckily, Tomi Paajaanen and James Spectrum have this happy pill to keep them sane until that day arrives.
Columns
Thursday, February 9 2012
Playing Guarde: Music Metacreation and the Vanguard
To create something or to create something that creates something; that is a question. But if you lead an electric horse to art, does it dream of the avant-garde?
Tuesday, June 7 2011
Idle Chatter About Paul Lansky
With "Notjustmoreidlechatter", Paul Lansky attempted to make a piece that would withstand the monotony of archival recording, future-proofed against the technological developments in the field of digital sound manipulation.
Friday, May 6 2011
Soundscape Mix #14: Ancient Communication
How we see things is affected by how we say things. This mix is a reflection on formerly prominent methods and modes of communication, such as the typewriter, cassette tape, and radio. Enjoy your cultural evolution.
Monday, March 14 2011
Soundscape Mix #13: Robots Vs. Spacemen
Don't panic! Set your faces on fun, 'cause this mix boldly goes where man has fun galore thanks to way-out tracks from Leila, Sufjan Stevens, Blockhead, AMP Live, the Cinematic Orchestra, and more!
Thursday, March 3 2011
The Extinction of Electronic Music Giants
The year 2010 saw two iconic music medium figures go out of production. Panasonic's Technics SL-1200 turntables, the primary tool of DJs since 1972, and Sony's cassette-based Walkman, which put mobile music in over 100 million ears since 1979. Both went the way of the dodo.
Soundscape Mix #12: Muti Music [21.Feb.11]
Soundscape Mix #11: Happy Holidays [24.Dec.10]
Soundscape Mix #10: Halloween [29.Oct.10]
Soundscape Mix #8: Orchestral Werks [13.Sep.10]
Soundscape Mix #7: Ad Noiseam [27.Aug.10]
Soundscape Mix #6: Cats [5.Aug.10]
Amon Tobin Part 2: A Cool Acousmatic Cat [30.Jun.10]
Soundscape Mix #5: Alternative Tentacles [26.Apr.10]
Soundscape Mix #4: Zombies [8.Apr.10]
Ain't No Cure for the Digital Virus [30.Mar.10]
Soundscape Mix #2: Valentine's Day [12.Feb.10]
Soundscape Mix #1: Vancouver [1.Feb.10]
Reviews
Thursday, September 22 2011
Drawn Ship: Low Domestic
East Vancouver's Drawn Ship takes a page out of the Riot Grrrl playbook, and dusts it off for a new jilted generation.
Friday, June 18 2010
Woodpigeon: Die Stadt Muzikanten
Nothing kicks off a run for the Polaris Music Prize like putting out your best album yet, and that is precisely what Mark Andrew of the Hamiltons did with his third full-length.
Wednesday, March 10 2010
B. Dolan: Fallen House, Sunken City
The plucky Providence poet dodges the sophomore album slump with a poignant conscious hip-hop record, backed by huge beats from Alias.
Wednesday, February 17 2010
Ernest Gonzales: Been Meaning to Tell You
This sophomore full-length is a solid step toward legitimacy for a fledgling label and deserving of recognition for the hard work of Exponential Records boss Ernest Gonzales.
Wednesday, February 3 2010
Seasick Steve: Man From Another Time
You will not find anyone in the music business today who is more real than this back porch blues man.
Kikumoto Allstars: House Music [19.Oct.09]
Various Artists: Harbour Boat Trips 01 [6.Oct.09]
Zero 7: Yeah Ghost [2.Oct.09]
Great Bloomers: Speak of Trouble [27.Sep.09]
Damian Lazarus: Smoke the Monster Out [25.Sep.09]
Boogie Boarder: Pizza Hero [15.Sep.09]
Eric Copeland: Alien in a Garbage Dump [14.Sep.09]
Louderbach: Autumn [10.Sep.09]
Kylie Auldist: Made of Stone [8.Sep.09]
Wisp: The Shimmering Hour [8.Sep.09]
Dirt Crew: Blow [7.Sep.09]
Brian Glaze: Green Living [27.Aug.09]
Larry Tee: Club Badd [7.Aug.09]
Machinedrum: Want to 1 2? [20.Jul.09]
Voodeux: The Paranormal [14.Jul.09]
Battlehooch: Piecechow [10.Jul.09]
Weinland: Breaks in the Sun [26.Jun.09]
Pixel: The Drive [24.Jun.09]
Kleinschmager Audio: Audiology [21.Jun.09]
Nosaj Thing: Drift [18.Jun.09]
Viva Voce: Rose City [18.Jun.09]
Gareth Dickson: Collected Works [17.Jun.09]
Andromeda Mega Express Orchestra: Take Off! [14.Jun.09]
Oliver Huntemann: H-3 [11.Jun.09]
Busdriver: Jhelli Beam [8.Jun.09]
Graham Coxon: The Spinning Top [4.Jun.09]
Boxcutter: Arecibo Message [3.Jun.09]
Paul Bryan:Listen Of [1.Jun.09]
The Lava Children:The Lava Children EP [21.May.09]
British Sea Power: Man of Aran OST [21.May.09]
Nathan Fake: Hard Islands [20.May.09]
Azaxx: The Exotic Delight Bay [19.May.09]
Eminem: Relapse [19.May.09]
Great Scott: The Grand Conspiracy EP [18.May.09]
Cloudc: Cloudc [13.May.09]
Subvert: Speaker Humpin' EP [13.May.09]
Ras G: Brotha From Another Planet [10.May.09]
Niobe: Blackbird's Echo [7.May.09]
Bow Wow: New Jack City II [1.May.09]
Various Artists: Acid Dreams [30.Apr.09]
Tosca: No Hassle [29.Apr.09]
Asher Roth:Asleep in the Bread Aisle [29.Apr.09]
DJ Hell: Teufelswerk [27.Apr.09]
Seventh Swami: Here For Now [23.Apr.09]
Common Market: The Winter's End EP [22.Apr.09]
Yes: Symphonic Live [21.Apr.09]
Stonephace: Stonephace [20.Apr.09]
Kinny: Idle Forest of Chit Chat [19.Apr.09]
Gui Boratto: Take My Breath Away [7.Apr.09]
Spoonbill: Zoomorphic [5.Apr.09]
James Murray: Where Edges Meet [2.Apr.09]
Andy Duguid: Believe [30.Mar.09]
Wounded Knee: Shimmering New Vistas [25.Mar.09]
The Balky Mule: The Length of the Rail [22.Mar.09]
Tim Exile: Listening Tree [19.Mar.09]
The Show Is the Rainbow: Wet Fist [18.Mar.09]
Flössin: Serpents EP [17.Mar.09]
Kelly Joe Phelps: Western Bell [15.Mar.09]
Various Artists: Ghostly Swim [12.Mar.09]
Misc.: Happiness Is Easy [11.Mar.09]
Broadway Project: One Divided Soul [10.Mar.09]
Christer: Techna [8.Mar.09]
Shuttle: Tunnel/Rotten Guts [5.Mar.09]
Bibio: Vignetting the Compost [4.Mar.09]
Maus Haus: Lark Marvels [3.Mar.09]
Various Artists: 4 Women No Cry Vol. 3 [26.Feb.09]
The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble: Mutations EP [25.Feb.09]
Nanda: Constant Change [19.Feb.09]
Male: All Are Welcome [16.Feb.09]
Noah23: Rock, Paper, Scissors [12.Feb.09]
Tiago La: Tiago La Is Losing the Plot [10.Feb.09]
Mr. Oizo: Lambs Anger [4.Feb.09]
Subhumans: Death Was Too Kind [3.Feb.09]
Sweatshop Union: Water Street [29.Jan.09]
Geoff Berner: Klezmer Mongrels [21.Jan.09]
Trentemøller: Live in Concert EP [19.Jan.09]
Tipsy: Buzzz [14.Jan.09]
Sacros: Sacros [14.Jan.09]
JW Farquhar: The Formal Female [12.Jan.09]
Clue To Kalo: Lily Perdida [8.Jan.09]
Mike Monday: Songs Without Words Part 1 [9.Dec.08]
Extrawelt: Schöne Neue Extrawelt [8.Dec.08]
Radioactive Man: Growl [24.Nov.08]
Ave.To: Three Way Intersection [3.Nov.08]
OceanLab: Sirens Of The Sea [22.Oct.08]
Rain: Rain [1.Oct.08]
DJ Woody: Selected Works 2002-2006 [26.Sep.08]
Venetian Snares: Detrimentalist [25.Sep.08]
Heartthrob: Dear Painter, Paint Me [25.Sep.08]
Kings of Leon: Only by the Night [23.Sep.08]
The Mole: As High As The Sky [23.Sep.08]
Justine: Justine [19.Sep.08]
Nat Kendall: Presents Songbird Sing [18.Sep.08]
The Revisionists: The Revisionists [15.Sep.08]
The M's: Real Close Ones [20.Aug.08]
K'naan: The Dusty Foot Philosopher [15.Aug.08]
John Matthias: Stories From the Watercooler [12.Aug.08]
Marek Bois: Boissche Untiefen [11.Aug.08]
Benga: Diary of an Afro Warrior [5.Aug.08]
Dame Grease: Goon Musik [4.Aug.08]
Mad EP: Bass.Hed [31.Jul.08]
Capitol K: Libertania / Go Go Go [30.Jul.08]
Kail: True Hollywood Squares [29.Jul.08]
The Egg: /Forwards [28.Jul.08]
Mark Farina: Fabric 40 [25.Jul.08]
Pivot: In The Blood [24.Jul.08]
Demian: Demian [23.Jul.08]
2562: Aerial [23.Jul.08]
Yellow Hand: Yellow Hand [22.Jul.08]
Pink Skull: Zeppelin 3 [17.Jul.08]
Alex Moulton: Exodus [15.Jul.08]
Ollo: If Thief EP [11.Jul.08]
Women: Women [7.Jul.08]
Fairport Convention: Unhalfbricking [27.Jun.08]
Sasha: The emFire Collection [26.Jun.08]
Dosh: Wolves and Wishes [23.Jun.08]
Cafeneon: Cafeneon [23.Jun.08]
Ian Matthews: If You Saw Thro' My Eyes [20.Jun.08]
Time Machine: Life Is Expensive [18.Jun.08]
Odd Nosdam: Pretty Swell Explode [17.Jun.08]
Vladislav Delay: Anima [16.Jun.08]
The Orb: The Dream [12.Jun.08]
Raoul Sinier: Brain Kitchen [11.Jun.08]
Montreal: A Summer's Night [10.Jun.08]
Kylie Auldist: Just Say [9.Jun.08]
Plants And Animals: Parc Avenue [5.Jun.08]
B. Dolan: Live Evel [5.Jun.08]
Blue Sky Black Death: Late Night Cinema [3.Jun.08]
Mudhoney: Superfuzz Bigmuff [30.May.08]
Delon & Dalcan: Tanz [30.May.08]
Ready Fire Aim: This Changes Nothing [28.May.08]
Pole Folder: Destinations [28.May.08]
The Herbaliser: Same as It Never Was [27.May.08]
Kensington Prairie: Captured In Still Life [23.May.08]
The Dub Pistols: Speakers and Tweeters [22.May.08]
Common Market: Black Patch War [22.May.08]
Télépathique: Love and Lust [20.May.08]
Dive Index: Mid/Air [20.May.08]
Lawgiverz: Data Treat EP [19.May.08]
Jack Marchment: Corydon And Manjrekar [19.May.08]
Ani DiFranco: Live at Babeville [DVD] [16.May.08]
Lyrics Born: Everywhere at Once [15.May.08]
Costa Music: Lighter Subjects [9.May.08]
Juno Reactor: Gods and Monsters [8.May.08]
Chevron: Tuff Shite EP [7.May.08]
Tim Fite: Fair Ain't Fair [5.May.08]
Prolyphic and Reanimator: The Ugly Truth [5.May.08]
Portishead: Third [28.Apr.08]
Silje Nes: Ames Room [25.Apr.08]
Prosumer & Murat Tepeli: Serenity [24.Apr.08]
Miguel Migs: Those Things Remixed [21.Apr.08]
Eva Be: Moving Without Traveling [21.Apr.08]
Brent Cash: How Will I Know If I'm Awake [18.Apr.08]
Various Artists: Members Of The Trick [17.Apr.08]
Stuart Davis: Something Simple [15.Apr.08]
Milez Benjiman: Feel Glorious [14.Apr.08]
Triclops!: Out of Africa [11.Apr.08]
Evol Intent: Era Of Diversion [10.Apr.08]
Tipper: Tertiary Noise [8.Apr.08]
Various Artists: You Don't Know: Ninja Cuts [4.Apr.08]
Brownout: Homenaje [1.Apr.08]
The Quarter After: Changes Near [28.Mar.08]
The Lions: Jungle Struttin' [27.Mar.08]
Cobblestone Jazz: 23 Seconds [26.Mar.08]
Reverend Organdrum: Hi-Fi Stereo [26.Mar.08]
Clutchy Hopkins: Walking Backwards [25.Mar.08]
Temposhark: The Invisible Line [24.Mar.08]
DJ Craze: Fabriclive 38 [21.Mar.08]
Fidgital: Departure [19.Mar.08]
Carlos Y Gaby: La Voz Sabia De Los Cosmos [17.Mar.08]
Dot Tape Dot: Tomavistas [12.Mar.08]
Daniel Wesley: Sing + Dance [11.Mar.08]
Kutiman: Kutiman [7.Mar.08]
Ghostland Observatory: Robotique Majestique [3.Mar.08]
Eugene S. Robinson: Fight [29.Feb.08]
Fink: Distance And Time [25.Feb.08]
4hero: Morning Changes EP [22.Feb.08]
Ridley Bent: Buckles & Boots [21.Feb.08]
Morcheeba: Dive Deep [20.Feb.08]
Chessie: Manifest [20.Feb.08]
talkingmakesnosense: The Winter Drones [19.Feb.08]
Cheer: Static Traps [18.Feb.08]
Tulsa: I Was Submerged [18.Feb.08]
Quinn Walker: Laughter's An Asshole / Lion Land [15.Feb.08]
Public Enemy: Remix of a Nation [13.Feb.08]
Ocrilim: Annwn [12.Feb.08]
TheDeathSet: MFDS [11.Feb.08]
Subtle: Yell&Ice [8.Feb.08]
CFC: Not Even Funny [8.Feb.08]
Troll Scientists: Useless Science [7.Feb.08]
Mlle Caro & Franck Garcia: Pain Disappears [4.Feb.08]
Food for Animals: Belly [1.Feb.08]
Harri Kakoulli: Bliss Like Gold [31.Jan.08]
Ghislain Poirier: No Ground Under [29.Jan.08]
Museum Pieces: City of Brotherly Love [28.Jan.08]
Hamster Dragster: Songs of Loss and Despair [24.Jan.08]
Donna Regina: More [23.Jan.08]
Pig&Dan: Imagine [22.Jan.08]
Hint: At the Dance [21.Jan.08]
Aluk Todolo: Descension [18.Jan.08]
Christ.: Bike [17.Jan.08]
Teki Latex: Party de Plaisir [14.Jan.08]
Dane Cook: Rough Around the Edges [11.Jan.08]
Brian Ellis: The Silver Creature [11.Jan.08]
Toshinori Kondo: Silent Melodies [11.Jan.08]
Various Artists: The Harlem Experiment [9.Jan.08]
Songs for Moms: The Worse It Gets the Better [8.Jan.08]
Eazy E: Featuring… [4.Jan.08]
Bogdan Raczynski: Alright! [2.Jan.08]
Tourettes: Good Evening Everybody [19.Dec.07]
Preach: Transatlantic [6.Dec.07]
Fairmont: Coloured in Memory [3.Dec.07]
Reverbaphon: Here Comes Everyone [30.Nov.07]
DJ? Acucrack: Humanoids from the Deep [29.Nov.07]
Degenerate Art Ensemble: Cuckoo Crow [29.Nov.07]
Take: Earthtones & Concrete [26.Nov.07]
Coral Egan: Magnify [20.Nov.07]
Younger Brother: The Last Days of Gravity [14.Nov.07]
Blogs
Thursday, February 9 2012
Forget Shepard Fairey. Niveau Zero & Balkansky Now Own "Obey"
This is not your basic club single. It doesn't ask you to like it.
Tuesday, January 17 2012
Pepe Deluxé Unveils a Most Marvelous Mystery With "A Night and a Day"
With their fourth album Queen of the Wave set to hit stores on January 31st, care of Asthmatic Kitty/Catskills, Pepe Deluxé invites you to experience one of the most brilliant pieces of genre-bending music ever created.
Monday, November 28 2011
Golden Glow - "The Cure" Video (PopMatters Premiere)
The Manchester roots of Golden Glow are on clear display with "The Cure".
Thursday, June 30 2011
20 Questions: Pete Tong
You'd never guess what the world-famous DJ and David Lynch have in common . . .
Abbe May - "Design Desire" (video) (Mixed Media) [4.May.11]
Jib Kidder - "Blue" (video) (Mixed Media) [3.May.11]
Free the Robots - "Jupiter" (video) (Mixed Media) [23.Feb.11]
Take - "Implosions" (video) (Mixed Media) [14.Oct.10]
Blockhead - "The Music Scene" (video) (Mixed Media) [13.Oct.10]
Slipped Disc: The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble - Here Be Dragons (Mixed Media) [18.Dec.09]
The Best Singles of 2009: Burial and Four Tet - "Moth/Wolf Cub" (Mixed Media) [10.Dec.09]
Deru - Say Goodbye to Useless (new album / video) (Mixed Media) [19.Oct.09]
Joan of Arc - "Flowers" (video) (Mixed Media) [19.Oct.09]
Breakbeat Era - "Ultra-Obscene" (music of 1999) (video) (Mixed Media) [8.Jun.09]
Ghislain Poirier - "Wha La La Ling feat. Face T" (video) (Mixed Media) [1.Jun.09]
Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele - "Howard" (video) (Mixed Media) [1.Jun.09]
Tosca - "Elitsa" (video) (Mixed Media) [29.May.09]
Qua - "Circles" (video) (Mixed Media) [22.Apr.09]
Lithop - "Graf" (video) (Mixed Media) [2.Apr.09]
Nosaj Thing - "1685/Bach" (video) (Mixed Media) [2.Apr.09]
Tiny Mix Tapes Follows Through On Its Name (MP3, Stream) (Mixed Media) [27.Mar.09]
The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble Video Collection (video) (Mixed Media) [16.Mar.09]
The Benbecula Records Video Collection (video) (Mixed Media) [10.Mar.09]
School of Seven Bells - "Half Asleep" (video) (Mixed Media) [9.Mar.09]
Fol Chen - "Cable TV" (video / MP3) (Mixed Media) [9.Mar.09]
The Pepe Deluxé Spare Time Machine Video Collection (video) (Mixed Media) [5.Mar.09]
Echaskech - "Every Touch" (video) (Mixed Media) [4.Mar.09]
The Sia Some People Have REAL Problems Video Collection (video) (Mixed Media) [27.Feb.09]
Hexstatic vs Kris Menace - "Invader" (video) (Mixed Media) [25.Feb.09]
Kinny - "Enough Said" feat. Quantic Soul Orchestra (video) (Mixed Media) [24.Feb.09]
The BPA - "He's Frank (Slight Return)" feat. Iggy Pop (video) (Mixed Media) [3.Feb.09]
Fol Chen - "No Wedding Cake" (video) (Mixed Media) [29.Jan.09]
