BeatRoute Magazine Alberta print e-edition - October 2016

Canadian sex-siren Peaches, is a jarring departure from
convention, a footwork-accented dubstep ode to
vaginas. From then onward, Dupieux takes listeners on
a veritable rollercoaster of sonic exploration. Standout
dancefloor-ready tracks like “Ruhe,” “All Wet” and “Low
Ink” clash with the bare noise of “Chairs” and “Useless”
in a beautiful chaos best consumed as an album, not a
shuffled mess of singles.
Where Mr. Oizo’s sound was once too-future, votes
of confidence from creative luminaries like Boys Noize,
Charli XCX, and even Skrillex, are a resonating “fuck
you” to the pandering, safe trend that electronic music
has been invaded by as of late. Ultimately, Dupieux’s
latest work is an unapologetic tapestry of intriguing
tidbits. While few of its tracks fit the conventional definition
of music, the impression is that Mr. Oizo never
intended for them to be. All Wet, then, is a challenging,
but rewarding listen for the open-minded.
• Max Foley
NOFX
First Ditch Effort
Fat Wreck Chords
First Ditch Effort is the latest release from punk legends,
NOFX. In anticipation of this album, two teaser songs
were released: “Six Years on Dope,” which dropped in
late August, and “Sid and Nancy,” released on Record
Store Day. Both of these songs are great examples of
the array of music on First Ditch Effort, both genuine
and the ridiculous that is NOFX. Recently the band
published their first book, The Hepatitis Bathtub and
Other Stories, where they shared experiences on a very
personal level. This album is almost a continuation of
the same open honesty. Lyrically, First Ditch Effort has
more depth, both personal and emotional, which is
a far cry from their earlier albums. There are slightly
more harmonies and little less political aggression, but
this is NOFX; naturally the lyrics are smart and equally
smartass, with cleverly camouflaged sarcasm and angst.
Melodically, it’s as most NOFX albums are: infectiously
upbeat, fast, and easily addictive. Short quick tempos
are reminiscent of older albums, but they’ve also added
slightly more complex and experimental elements to
this album. From rhythm patterns, to the use of a piano
and audio clips. Overall, First Ditch Effort is a great
addition to the ever-growing NOFX discography.
• Sarah Mac
Conor Oberst
Ruminations
Nonesuch Records
Conor Oberst, for as long as modern memory serves,
has been a voice of fragility and yet brazenly earnest
confessionals. At first, the patron saint of the broken
hearted, leading Bright Eyes to fame with a swath of
sweetly sad and oddly compelling tales. This time
around, when Oberst sat down to write, the intention
to make an album was not there. But what poured out
as he holed up in his hometown of Omaha, with snow
piling up outside, and wood fire ashes piling up on the
hearth, became a glowing and honest collection of stories
that is the perfect soundtrack to the drawing cold
of the season. Decidedly unpolished, with little effect,
and warmth instilled by gloriously imperfect harmonica
parts, the album dances between the stirring piano and
guitar styles the songwriter is known for, with the air
of a train hopping transient, looking to escape some
unknown history. The highlight of the album is “Barbary
Coast (Later),” a perfect Jack Kerouac-ian example of the
aforementioned feeling. There are moments that make
the listener think of Jeff Buckley (“You All Loved Him
Once”) and Andy Shauf (the dark and uniquely human
stories of the album, including “Mamah Borthwick”),
and yet it all comes together so undeniably Conor
Oberst.
• Willow Grier
Opeth
Sorceress
Nuclear Blast
Sweden’s Opeth have been in the game a long time,
going all the way back to 1990. Releasing 12 albums
along the way, becoming known the world over as one
of the most diverse groups working in metal and refusing
to get tied down by one individual set of stylistic
constraints. Sorceress is the group’s first release on the
mighty Nuclear Blast record company, one of the most
reputable in the industry.
Album standout “The Wilde Flowers,” has a sort of
Mike Patton-era Faith No More operatic quality to it.
The next tune, “Will O The Wisp,” calls to mind Jethro
Tull with a very gentle minstrel nature with just acoustic
guitar and clean story telling vocals. Opeth’s last record,
2014’s Pale Communion, saw the group flirt with the
sonic realms of the ‘60 and ‘70s, and the prog rock
sound has remained a continually prevailing influence.
Now on Sorceress, frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt
states an influx of jazz into his already bursting record
collection provided new creative elements from which
to work with.
The album is a real journey and perhaps the group’s
most adventurous work yet. Moments of tranquility
are interspersed with great high points, shredding solos
and soaring ranges of vocality. Opeth remain steadfast
in their pursuit of forging onwards into new musical
territory for themselves.
• Paul Rodgers
Picture The Ocean
Something Real
Independent
The path of artists is rarely a straight line, and the art
they create is often reflective of their chosen avenues.
On their new LP, Something Real, Edmonton’s Picture
The Ocean have delivered a subtle and close knit set of
songs that shines a soft light on their transition from
road weary to finding the nearness that can only come
from having a place to call home.
The warm, opening strains of “Anywhere,” with only
an acoustic guitar and tambourine to accompany the
matrimonial harmony of Jesse Dee and Jacquie B, finds a
sweet melancholy in the end of a long road, the refrain,
“You can’t call me here, I could be anywhere,” at once
letting the ones you love know you’re safe, even if they
can’t hear you say it.
“Excalibur” takes the returning home narrative a bit
further, and puts a new spin on the conversations bands
have about making plans for the future, at once hopeful,
and disconsolate at the ways the world can change
the plans you cared so much for, with or without your
input.
Picture The Ocean may not be putting on the miles
they used to, but their seams feel as tight knit as ever,
and Something Real offers a smartly composed and
performed heartfelt proximity to the dreams of youth
and the realities of age.
• Mike Dunn
Powell
Sport
XL Recordings
There are plenty of SEO-oriented ways of discussing
electronic enfant terrible Powell’s music, many of which
were engineered by Oscar Powell himself. Having
published personal email correspondence everywhere
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