Do you remember that fuzzy feeling you would get when someone made you a mixtape? Or what about the vulnerability that comes with making a mix for someone special? We used to agonize over everything from the packaging to the sequencing, with secret messages and nervous subtext clinging to every song selection. Ah, the pangs of physical media nostalgia. Today, our digital heart’s all aflutter, because Airck from Doldrums just made us an all-Canadian mix called Beautiful Noise.
The Montreal-based, Sub Pop Records-signed drone-friendly pop experimenter is currently touring in support of The Air Conditioned Nightmare, but he took some time out of his busy schedule to assemble a compilation of emerging, exclusively Canadian artists for our listening pleasure.
Courtesy of Doldrums’ Airick Woodhead:
I put together this compilation of new Canadian underground artists. I don't want to over-contextualize the music, as I think it should speak for itself. But I do think there is a thread that ties many of the sounds together—beyond merely comforting, the feeling I get from many of these tracks is one of intense security. Some of them are dance oriented, but I think there is some creativity going on well beyond being simply club tools. There also seems to be tropical romanticism going on, maybe because it gets so cold up here? Many of these artists are playing around, so check them out this summer if you can, and support the artists on Soundcloud or Bandcamp or wherever. Spring clean your ears.
Stream Beautiful Noise below, and read Woodhead’s comments on each artist included below. Keep scrolling for Doldrums’ upcoming tour dates, too.
World Panther, “Portal”: From Vancouver via Montreal, Jordan makes beautiful drones under a number of aliases. He used to be in a project called Girls Gone Bong. One of the last remaining Jedi.
Paul Trafford, “Troposphere”: Paul is a Montreal resident on the Forbidden Planet label. He also runs a techno rave night called Psychic Driving. I used to jam right underneath him and I think he probably hates me for blasting mixes on the PA at all hours. Sorry!
Adam Feingold: A Montreal dude whose mixes I really like. This was released on Apron Records last year.
Project Pablo: Montreal Via Vancouver, he released on his own ASL Singles Club imprint.
D'eon: From his last record, Music for Keyboards. He also showed me a few new tracks he's working on that have some next level aggressive futurism going on. Very excited!
Ramzi, “A Jungle 4 Ramzi”: One of my favorite artists and performers, Phoebe's music creates this kind of cubist rainforest. She released this on her own label. Pygmy Animals. Montreal/Vancouver.
Guy Dallas, “Come Through”: Doldrums collaborator and co-conspirator on some Dark City vibes. He has releases on Toronto's very sweet Healing Power Records and his own Homolka Records. This track is unreleased.
Bataille Solaire, "Hyper Drive Intro": People flock from miles around to pray when Asaël picks up a his midi guitar. I personally miss his luscious locks. He's releasing a tape later this year on the Canadian-friendly Berlin label Mansions & Millions.
Window, “Glossity”: We worked at a call centre together once, and whenever I walked by his cubicle Igor would be zooming into an infinite vector pattern on his screen. I like the drum n bass-iness of this one.
Temple Volant, “Delphinity”: Sami has released music under an empire of monikers, including Nacomi, Nava Luvu, Flying V Temple as well as being a live member of Doldrums for a time. This track is from Daydream Drawings, released on 1080p.
