J..M. Hart: Headwaters

Singer-songwriter J.M. Hart dips his toes into psychedelic fare with hints of the Canterbury scene on his new album Headwaters. Originally started out as an EP with politically charged songs, he found himself pulled into storytelling folk songs. One of them, the album's melancholic opener Take Me Back, popped into his head while driving on winding mountain roads. The quirky Marcus Mulcahey tries to make sense of the evasive character that pops up in the Phish rock song Character Zero.

Hart keeps it deceptively straightforward, using the tone of his guitar to capture the various moods and no frills lyrics that cut to the chase. It did not stop him from going for a more abstract approach in Debris (Falling In The Black) or kicking off a song with a trippy intro (Can You Keep Up?). Drummer and fellow Phish fan Scott Ferber, drummer of jam band the Jauntee, is on board with gentle percussion, holding back mostly but making his mark nevertheless. Chances are that this album is a stepping stone for further exploration of that process in the near future.

Words about music (852): Louis Armstrong

Music is life itself. What would this world be without good music? No matter what kind it is.

Louis Armstrong

Elephant Stone: ASHA

photo: Bowen Stead

Canadian psychedelic raga band Elephant Stone keep it closer to home on their new album ASHA, a mixed bag of politically charged rockers, soul-searching love songs and dealing with the suicide of Christian Dorey, a friend of band leader Rishi Dhir. He was looking for a way to bottle his anger (Fascists Killed Yer Rock 'n' Roll, I Got A Pill) and counting his blessings (A Beautiful Fate) in one big swoop. That could have led to a directionless mess - biting off more than he could chew - but it all comes together with the hope that everything will work out some how.

While its predecessor Back Into The Dream found the band expanding their musical palette, they have returned to their dreamy melodies with a hint of progressive rock. Parallel And Contrary Motion, named after one of Rishi's daughter piano instruction books, is the centrepiece of the album. Being torn apart by emotions it downed on him that it was about his friend's decision to take his own life. Horrible as that might be, it made him rethink and respect that choice.

Wine Lips: TV Dinner

Garage punk psych rockers Wine Lips keep it simple and straightforward on their new album TV Dinner, serving up a baker's dozen of songs about fucking up, brawls, trying to make amends adn the like. They sound rough and muzzy, but the unrelenting energy is just what one might need after a bad day. And listening more closely will unveil the smart licks and spot-on stop-and-start shenagigans.

Anyone claiming that fast-paced guitar driven is a thing of the past will stand corrected. This band is a force of nature and you can't argue with nature. unless you want to make a complete fool of yourself.

Female Gaze: Bury You

photo: Clay Lyon

Tuscon, AZ based alt-rock trio Female Gaze latched upon Kim Deal's bass sound for their Bury You single. Lead singer Nelene DeGuzman had some serious doubts about bringing a child into this world - it became the main theme for their forthcoming new album linea nigra, but on the single she tries to forget about her worries and lead her bandmates through an infectious, sexy mid-tempo dance track. Just enough of echo on the vocals gives the song enough space to set up a three-way conversation between the instruments.