In No Particular Order: Albums of the Week (June 11, 2021)
Look at what the cat dragged in!
Four of the week’s most exciting new releases for your ears (and maybe your cat’s). From Montreal indie act Islands to Whitehorse-based songwriter Paris Pick, the (predominately) Canadian collection of new albums will not disappoint.
Just like From The Inbox, I’ve created a In No Particular Order Spotify playlist to match my weekly album picks! Featuring the three ‘notable tracks’ from each release, check back every Friday to find something new in your music library.
As always, you can find Dusty Organ on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify to stay up to date on new releases. Also, you can find tracks from these albums and more on our Monthly Spotify playlist.
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Islands – Islomania
Royal Mountain Records
Indie rock
After a five year hiatus, Montreal’s Nick Thorburn reignited his indie rock project Islands for their eighth studio album Islomania. Written over two years and at his own pace, the new record is a breath of fresh air for both Thorburn and long-time fans, bringing forward the familiar guitar-lead indie pop and groovy synth-pop energy of his previous records but with a more carefree and detailed delivery. On the surface, the track list of Islomania is bright and colourful, but hidden within the lyrics and song structures lies an ebb and flow of emotion. “Tension and release exist throughout. Every song here begins bottled up, but there’s always a cathartic release by the end. There’s darkness and doubt in every crevice of this record, but there’s always a release,” Thorburn explains.
Notable tracks: “Islomania” // “(We Like To) Do It With the Lights On” // “Set The Fairlight”
Paris Pick – Hope For The Best
Care Records
Indie pop/Soul-pop
Hailing from Whitehorse, Yukon comes singer-songwriter Paris Pick. Since landing in Yukon in 2013, she has been building her repertoire and brand up north, and has now released her sophomore album Hope For the Best. Incorporating indie pop, rock, folk, and soul, Paris creates a welcoming and nostalgic experience, as she goes through love, loss, sensuality, and self-confidence across eight tracks. A warm horn section, personable vocals, and a homegrown demeanour give Hope For the Best its charm and personality, helping to secure Paris’ status as a hidden gem in the Canadian indie music scene.
Notable tracks: “Beautiful Day” // “Hope For the Best” // “I Can’t Help It”
Dizzy – Separate Places EP
Royal Mountain Records/Communion
Indie rock
If their 2020 critically-acclaimed album The Sun And Her Scorch wasn’t enough, Oshawa-based indie outfit Dizzy have released a spine-chilling and stunning reconstructed version on their new Separate Places EP. Featuring five new collaborative renditions of some of the best tracks from the original LP, the JUNO-nominated quartet bring along Kevin Garrett, Overcoats, Luna Li, Flyte and Jahnah Camille to create a parallel universe of soul-touching music.
Notable Tracks: “The Bird Behind the Drapes” // “Sunflower, Are You There?” // “10PM”
Onelight – Emporium
Independent
Experimental Electronic
Since his genre-bending 2017 debut Vanderlay, Parisian producer/DJ Onelight has been pushing the boundaries of style and genre with his multidimensional and experimental sound. His new album Emporium continues the trend, grabbing hold of contemporary and modern trap, rap, and R&B elements. With a handful of features, his detailed and textured release takes on new personalities across the track list and mixes together the attention-grabbing power of a good hook with cerebral electronic production in like with acts such as Flume, Crooked Colours, and Mura Masa.
