Raised By Swans
Every once in awhile I come across what I think is an absolutely amazing band. You know the one right? When you hear them you just want to sing their praises and tell the world. Well Raised By Swans is just one of those ... at least for me.
My first exposure to RBS was via the CBC Radio 3 pod-cast (Pod-cast #34 from January 13th of 2006 to be exact). Since I was occupied at the time I was not really clued in for the whole song but when I focused in it really grabbed me. It reminded me a bit of the great band Porcupine Tree. I decided when I had the time I would check out more about the band online.
The website (http://www.raisedbyswans.com)had three songs that one could download and listen to. After only a few plays it was clear that I had to have the album. The lyrics were eloquent and intelligent the music was unique and inventive. Violet Light stood out the most of the samples available on the website. It is a rich and emotional experience.
Via the website I learned there were at least two ways to obtain their album Codes and Secret Longings. The first being direct mail order from the band itself. The second was via Maple Music. Being one that likes to have fairly quick gratification I went to order from Maple Music so I could pay for it via credit card and have it delivered faster than mailing a money order out. At that time, though, Maple Music was out of stock.
I decided to contact RBS via their contact link on the website. Eric Howden himself responded in short order and informed me that I could also get the album through Indiepool.com. I placed my order for two and eagerly awaited the arrival.
Within about five business days I got my CD. Boy, is it a awesome CD. The vocals are just incredible on every track. So eloquent and stimulating. People talk about how great artists like Alanis Morrisette, Fiona Apple or Roger Waters are but Eric Howden's lyrics are even better. Listening to his lyrics are like listening to a master poet or writer. They take you gently away and return you safely at the end of your trip.
One of the interesting things about the vocals on Codes and Secret Longings is that they are so understated. Not that the music over powers them but the way they are sung keeps them slightly wrapped in a thin veil. That veil, when lifted is like opening a treasure chest and discovering it contains great riches.
Then there is the music. It ranges from the Radioheadish There Is No Escape to the unique and unusual Imagined Life. Between there are all sorts of wonderful sounds like the awaking of life in the spring.
For me the strongest pieces on the album are Violet Light, which is just simply amazing in every way, Phantom Limb/Divided By Night, Imagined Life, and Scent. To be honest though there is not a single weak song on this album.
I cannot believe that it took me so long to hear about Raised By Swans. They are such a solid band and Canadian to top it off that I should have heard about them sooner than many Europeans and Americans. I am trying to change that now. I am writing this piece in hopes that it encourages more people, worldwide, to listen to them. I have tried hard to push them elsewhere and at local stores.
I don't know if you will like Raised By Swans as much as I do but I give Codes and Secret Longings a very solid 5 out of 5
Raised By Swans Interview
1. Who comprises RBS and what is their history (music history, such as did they play previous bands or solo?)?
Eric Howden played with The Gandharvas for a while, amongst a few other bands.
Andy Magoffin still plays with the Two Minute Miracles.
Brady Parr played drums in a band called Salmonblaster at one point and has also played in a few other bands.
Chris Donais played guitar in a few local bands.
2. What sort of music does the band listen to?
Separately, all kinds. As a band, of course, we often like to hunker down and listen to a band called "Old Plums".
3. Who would you consider your influences?
Old Plums.
4. What is your view on the following (with respect to music):
- the internet?
I like Versard's description of the internet: "a leather glove, folded in on itself, and suddenly also a nubbled horse, clippity-clopping." I think he said it best.
- music websites such as last.fm (a community database)?
I don't really know what that is, exactly. But I like the idea of people hearing our music. That's what music's for, after all - to share.
- file sharing?
I don't know - I guess I just wish some people had longer attention spans, and cared more about holding things in their hands. Meaning, holding a brand new album is such a lovely and magical thing - scanning through a list of mp3s for a song you want is not lovely or magical at all.
- selling via the internet?
Both maplemusic.com and indiepool.com help us out with that, and they both do an amazing job. I'm so awful at keeping track of money and things like how many 'units' we've sold, so it's really wonderful that they do those kinds of things for us.
5. Violet Light is an amazing song. It is both very sad and optimistic. Can you tell me what it is about and whether it ties into the album's dedication "for lost friends"?
Thank you. It ties directly into the title and theme of the album, actually - the idea of longing for, and simultaneously mourning the loss of, something that was dead and unattainable from the very moment of its conception. That is a very privately beautiful song for me - it directly references one of the most poignant, wonderful, and terrible periods of my life.
6. Who are the "lost friends"?
I'd rather not say. But the great thing about that dedication, to me, is that besides the actual people it refers to in my life, both those gone forever and those who might find their way back, ultimately it also applies to everyone who connects with the album - anyone who feels lost, and finds some sort of comfort in knowing they're not alone in that total fucking confusion. That was the idea behind it, at least.
On that note, we hope to organize a group hug very soon.
7. Was it always RBS's intention to release this album independently or were you unable to find any labels willing to sign the band?
It was always our intention to release it independently. We just wanted to make the album all by ourselves. And we did. We're very proud of it.
8. There are many aspiring musicians out there, I am sure, that would be interested in knowing what process you went through to release this album. Would you be able to fill us in on the details?
It was a long process, several years in all, although the length of time is misleading. Basically we were so broke we didn't have much of a choice.
I've been sitting here thinking about the details and there are so many that I feel I'm going to be sick. So perhaps another time. Let's just say it was a long, long process, but ultimately a totally, totally rewarding one.
9. It may be the title of the album tricking me into thinking this, but do the white letters on the album sleeve and booklet spell anything? In the same line, does the little image on the back bottom left corner and the "1101" have meaning (i.e.. is the 1101 binary for 13)?
Again, I can't say. I will say that yes, there are anagrams all over the album, but I can't tell you how they unravel. Not because I'm trying to be a jerk, but the whole concept of the album is that we all surround our hearts with deep code, that we're all secrets locked up away from even ourselves, and that the thing we long for and lose are often beyond our own understanding. I think it's really, really important to always keep parts of yourself to yourself - beyond what happens subconsciously of course - and the codes on and in the album are part of that personal philosophy and satisfaction.
I will say that yes, the white letters mean .... something. As does 1101.
10. In your opinion, what makes for a "good" song?
It has to not suck ass.
11. Are there any plans to ever tour the UK, Europe and other overseas destinations?
Hopes, yes. Plans ... no. We've been talking to a couple of Australian labels, and also Japanese label ... in both situations the best thing in the world would be to go overseas and play until we fall down exhausted. But we'll see. That is definitely, definitely the goal, let's put it that way.
12. I understand that you have been seeking a European label. Have you had any success with this?
See above. We've had success, in that lots of people from all over the world seem to be enjoying the album. We'll just have to see where that leads, I suppose.
13. Do any of you work 9-5 jobs or is RBS a full-time job?
We all work. If we didn't we'd be dead, sadly.
14. What do you do in your down time?
We eat things.
15. What can we expect from RBS in the future?
As much music as we can manage to squeeze out of our wittle hearts. Not 'little' - 'wittle'.
16. What has been the biggest disappointment for RBS and the biggest surprise?
Disappointment: being mistaken for a gymnastics team.
Surprise: winning the gold.
Fun questions:
1. Have any of you ever woken up in a dumpster??
Sigh ... dumpster sleeps. I miss those.
2. What is the craziest thing you ever did?
Killed lots and lots of people.
3. Would you rather punch and old woman in the face or throw a ferret off a bridge?
Most old women and ferrets deserve better treatment than that. Most.
At this time I would like to thank Eric Howden and his bandmates for taking the time to answer my questions. I hope you enjoy the interview and I hope to bring you some more in the future.
Long live RBS!!
Lisa Brokop
Sorry this took such a long time to get to. Just when I was arranging my time to write this I was too tired then I got too busy with other things.
I was mulling over who to write about for a very long time. Many of my friends know that my absolute favourite musician is Heather Nova and they would probably be surprised that I am, instead, writing first about Lisa Brokop. The decision came one the night that I went to see Lisa Brokop perform at the Club Regent Casino in Winnipeg on February 5 (2005).
I can't remember exactly why I started listening to Lisa Brokop. I do know that I was experimenting with Country music (listening to it not playing it) and likely she came to my attention when I was scouting a music or second hand music store. For all I know it could have been the fact that she is a gorgeous Canadian. Regardless, it makes no real difference now because I am a huge fan of Lisa now for her amazing voice and skilled song writing/musical instrument prowess.
In a time where the trend for female Country artists is towards sex and more pop-ish Country Lisa has stayed the course. She just keeps doing what she is best at and that is pure Country and with a voice like hers most people could care less what style she sings. Her lyrics are solid and well balanced. She tackles many hard topics that many would not cover and does them with grace and respect. Her ability to deal with topics, such as marital strife, and not make the listener roll their eyes has always impressed me. The dark places she seeks to expose are what really makes her stand out from so many other artists Rock or Country.
I always knew that Lisa had a wonderful voice, powerful but not over powering, but hearing her live just absolutely blew me away. All I could think of is that with talent like hers and a voice like that why the hell does she have to go to the USA to record her music? Absolutely no offence to Nashville but if our own industry professionals cannot manage the talent of someone like Lisa then this country is truly in worse musical shape that it makes itself out to have. There has to be someone here with the presence of mind how to to sell Lisa to the world.
I don't know much more to say right now than please give Lisa Brokop a chance to win you over. I am sure you will forget you are listening to Country after awhile. I strongly urge you to see her live if you have the chance. You can visit Lisa's web site here. I also have a good selection of Lisa Brokop in my music stream which you can find a link to above.
Lisa if you ever read this I hope I can interview you sometime!
Image used without permission (so far) from the Lisa Brokop web site
Music Benders
I have been pretty addicted to music lately. I don't think I have bought as much music in a year as I have this year. It all started with the purchase of a turntable this spring and has continued until now.
Why would I buy a turntable? Well, to be honest, I had missed having one. I like the richness of the sound and the intimacy. By richness of sound I am not saying it is a better sound just very different ... in most cases. To me the base sounds fuller, for example.
Then there is the intimacy. With CDs you just crack open the case slide the disc in and go. You maybe look over the insert once before sliding it back in. You also do not have to be very careful with CDs as they are much more durable. With LPs the whole process of listening to the music is very different. You have to pull the record out carefully, place it on the turntable, always have to be careful handling the disc, clean it, and so forth.
Having a turntable again has allowed me to experiment with different artists since used LPs are generally (much) cheaper than their CD counterparts. Of course there were many albums and artists that I repurchased that I had a long time ago but I have also explored many different sounds and artists. I even took the plunge and spent the big dollars that new LPs cost and picked up such things as Joss Stone, Garbage, and Wolf Parade.
I have also been buying tons of CDs too since it is a much more portable and durable medium. Unlike before and thanks to my newly found adventurousness with LPs I have been picking up plenty of new stuff. Well new to me anyway not just new artists on the scene. Thanks to suggestions from friends and pod-cast such as the CBC Radio 3 pod-cast I have discovered lots of great music like Porcupine Tree, Valerie Gore, The Weekend, Wolf Parade, The Organ, The Mars Volta, Texas, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
Definitely a good year for music for me.
Then there is the artist benders I have been on lately. Like Lisa Brokop and Heather Nova. For anyone that has been to my Last.fm profile knows that both artists have been well played on my part.
With respect to Lisa Brokop the bender started when I saw her in concert earlier this year. I fell madly in love with her then. I always knew she had a god strong voice but I never imaged it was that good. Lisa is definitely my favourite Canadian artist. I wish I could meet a woman like her.
Heather Nova is absolutely my favourite artist of all time. I discovered her when I was browsing for new music back in late 1997 and I don't think quick sampling an artist has ever had such a profound effect on me. The album I was Oyster and when I got to sampling the song "Light Years" I was permanently hooked and Heather has never been far from my CD player. I will save more words on Heather Nova for a future "profile".
Why didn't any one tell me about Imogen Heap?
Now I have to say I do listen to the radio everyday but to be honest I listen to either CBC Radio One or 999 BOB FM, the latter of which is not what you would call a station that stays on top of current music. Not only that but of the friend that do listen to music regularly they do not always get into the same musical tastes as I do.
Right now, well for the last four months, I have been seeking out "new" music. Of course new does not mean brand new albums or artists but just a change up from what I listen to regularly. Um... well actually my regular list is pretty large right now. I guess my musical lust is just a bit unsaitable right now. But I digress.
I was seeking out new music and somehow, I can't remember how, I came across Imogen Heap. Boy, oh boy am I ever glad I did. She is totally awesome. While electronic, as her current album surely falls within, is not normally my genre Imogen just kicks serious arse! She has this wonderful smokey, melodic voice that just drips sensuality, great lyrics and wonderful musical arrangements.
Imogen Heap
Her first album, I Megaphone, is much more "rockish" and is heavy in piano and similar, slightly, to Tori Amos but much more progressive than Amos. Speak For Yourself, her second album is definitely electronic but not in a crap bubble-gum style. It is compared to Byork but I think much nicer to listen to and more progressive.
Between the two albums she collaborated with one of the producers from her first album, Guy Sigsworth, to produce the album Details under the band name of Frou Frou which an equally great album and certainly turned her to the electronic sound.
It has been a while since I was so impressed by an artist in such a short time.
This one made me laugh ... Imogen the Devil!
