This is one of those CDs that has been sitting around awaiting a review for far, far too long. So long in fact I seem to have misplaced the accompanying press info. Anyway what we have here is a compilation of underground Vancouver bands (and one rather spiffy jingle for Divine Industries). The music covers a lot of bases, from jangly country inspired pop to punk to industrial to dance.
By definition compilations that cover such varied ground demand an open-minded listener. Still if you are such a creature there is a lot of talent on display here. The CD opens with ‘Veal’ and their track ‘Mexico Texaco’, this is my favorite song because of its laid back almost sleazy delivery, and the fact it is a track about wanting to steal a car, rob a Texaco and head for the Mexican border. Hell of a plan for a bunch of Canadians but hey count me in, sounds like a blast.
Next is the faster, angrier punk sounds of ‘DSK’ with ‘Cementhead’, pretty standard pop edged punk with some nice bass. Third we have ‘Closed Caption Radio’ with ‘Benevolence’, more punk but less poppy, more grungy. Again pretty good without being exceptional by any means.
‘HelenKeller’ are an ambient musical experiment, in between providing remixes they knock out their own tracks such as ‘Go Down to the Twenty Room’, which is basically just a five minute groove. A really cool sound. More dance experimentation is displayed by ‘Ottoban’ who are a bunch of real musicians with real instruments playing drum ‘n’ bass, the track is ‘Total Existence’ and you have to be amazed at how well they pull this off.
Next is the spooky little jingle for Divine Industries, kind of how one would expect the evil world dominating corporations of the future to introduce their mind-altering brainwashing programming of the day. I hear Bill Gates is already looking into ways of stealing it.
Back to the music and some prime Canadian alternative rock from ‘Melt’ with ‘Elastic Gargle’, it has a Britpop feel to the vocals effects and is a good enough song to want you to hear more. ‘Bacteria Culture’ is the name of the next track a trippy, creepy slab of rock from a band called ‘Nefro’.
We are up to track nine now, and this is the only song by a (at the time of release anyway) band no longer recording. ‘Sons of Freedom’ had broken up in the early 1990s. The track ‘Heaven’ is a pretty standard piece of semi heavy rock, nice but nothing special. ‘Flash Bastard’ are a throw back band, they bring a wonderful little piece of 70’s style glam rock, all fun and no substance, the track is called ‘C’Mon’ and if it doesn’t make you smile you are probably dead, go see a doctor. Also apparently Flash Bastard were recently thrown off a tour with Motley Crue and ‘The Scorpions’, for apparently being too Rock ‘n Roll for the lead singer of the Scorpions. Ha ha ha. Rock ‘n Roll ladies and gentlemen.
Finishing off the CD are ‘Brundlefly’ with ‘Back n’ Forth’. A sweet if short little dose of indie-pop. All in all this is a pretty sweet collection of differing styles, and proves that after the likes of Brian Adams, Celine Dion and Alanis, Canada does really have some talent to offer. Visit the site and check it out, they only want $6 for this baby, well worth it.

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