New music

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This article was published 14/05/2015 (4128 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

POP/ROCK

Mumford & Sons

Wilder Mind (Glassnote/Universal)

MUMFORD & Sons have traded in their kick drum and banjo for synths and electric guitars? Get the folk outta here!

The much-anticipated third offering from one of the biggest U.K. bands in years may not sit well with some fans. Gone is the traditional acoustic roots sound that made them huge. In fact, the less open-minded may grasp onto lines like, “Another fragile edge, and a tender sound, and then you went aground,” from album closer Hot Gates and decide, as the lyrics continue, “there’s nothing here for you tonight.”

Well, that’s really not the case. The new sound brings to mind an interesting sort of Coldplay-meets-Arcade Fire-meets-uh, Mumford hybrid. The music is still heavily percussive and the guitar accents build and climb to exciting new heights.

The first two singles, Believe (a powerful track that slowly unfolds) and The Wolf (a real aggressive affair), are exceptionally strong and get better with each listen. Monster sounds like a holdover from Sigh No More.

Much of this is about relationships; if fans give this one a chance, Mumford’s latest may weather the winds of change and prove to be as endearing and enduring as their previous offerings. HHHH

DOWNLOAD THIS: The Wolf, Wilder Mind, Monster

— Bruce Leperre

 

The Fuse

Brilliant Sun (Independent)

WINNIPEG band the Fuse has been setting local music fans’ hearts aquiver since its late-’70s zenith, and with Brilliant Sun the original band, with a little help from their friends, once again hit all the right musical notes.

Whether they call themselves the Hatcher-Briggs Band (or anything else, for that matter) the sonic recipe is dependably the same. Mixing equal parts heart-tugging ballads, loose-grooved country or straight-up harmonious SSRq60s-inspired pop, these guys have a lock on likable tunes.

Brilliant Sun could have been a vehicle for co-founder Jeff Hatcher to burnish his unknown-legend status, but instead, the democratically minded band goes to the benches for the bulk of its 13 tracks. Multi-talented sibling Don Hatcher wrote or co-wrote the bulk of the songs here and it is his gentle songwriting touch that distinguishes this set. Down To The Earth, Think It’s Alright and Song of Songs each hit a uniquely identifiable vibe far removed from the band’s “skinny black tie” reputation.

No matter though. Persuasive songwriting is what has always made the Fuse terrific, and if it is this Hatcher’s time to shine, then so be it. Other brother Jeff and David Briggs are also in fine form: Briggs’ My Elizabeth and Jeff’s The Reachers deliver the kind of awesome hooks that keep Winnipeggers coming back for more. HHH1/2

DOWNLOAD: The Reachers, Brilliant Sun

— Jeff Monk

 

Mikal Cronin

MCIII (Merge)

MIKAL Cronin has built a rapidly climbing reputation for cranking out hard-hitting indie-rock and power-pop nuggets that immediately demand attention.

The San Francisco singer-songwriter, who first made his name as part of Ty Segall’s band, continues that on MCIII, the third instalment in what he sees as a trilogy of album that share a similar songwriting esthetic. Turn Around sets the scene for the album — a competition between roaring guitars and a soothing string section that ends in balance. The first single, Made My Mind Up, is a triumphant bit of power pop, with its massive-sounding riffs and sunny harmonies. Say is all hopped up on frantic drumming and bass lines that mellow out as the horns and Cronin’s delivery give the melody some weight.

However, the second half of MCIII is the real surprise — a six-song, mini rock-opera of sorts called Circle that calls to mind the ambitions of Pet Sounds.

It starts out dramatically enough on Alone, with an orchestral flourish that gradually dissolves into just Cronin and an acoustic guitar to mirror his solitude, before erupting in rage with angry guitar riffs and horn blasts. That carries on in Gold, with the vicious guitar work balanced with Cronin’s lovely vocal harmonies. On Control, he is working through his anger over a jangle-rock backdrop that could have come from R.E.M. circa Out of Time, but he finds the will to carry on in the Nirvana-like basher Ready.

For MCIII, Cronin pushes boundaries on all fronts, arriving on a whole new plateau as an artist and a rocker that is a thrill to hear. HHHH

DOWNLOAD: Ready, Made My Mind Up

— Glenn Gamboa, Newsday

 

Roots

Zac Brown Band

Jekyll + Hyde (Southern Ground/Universal)

EVER since the Zac Brown Band first shared its affection for fried chicken, fans have shared their love for the band over the course of four albums, which have sold seven million copies, spawned 11 No. 1 singles and won three Grammy awards.

The aptly named Jekyll + Hyde is an ambitious sonic smorgasbord of sounds that never comes across as calculated or contrived. Along with the usual Caribbean influences, there is so much more. If you’ve ever seen ZBB live, you know they have a penchant for sharing their wealth of diverse influences as far-reaching as Van Morrison, the Marshall Tucker Band, Metallica and even Rage Against the Machine. In fact, Zac pays tribute to RATM on Heavy is the Head, with special guest Chris Cornell (Soundgarden) vocally channelling Ozzy Osbourne. Junkyard was co-written with Roger Waters, and elsewhere, Marcus Mumford and Avicii make their presence felt on Beautiful Drug and Tomorrow Never Comes. On Mango Tree, we hear Zac and Sara Bareilles sharing some jazzy, big band sounds while the new single, Loving You Easy, has an R&B feel. Also of note, Winnipeg’s Sarah Dugas contributes vocals to two tracks.

If you like a variety of musical genres and don’t have the time or patience to make a mixtape, the Zac Brown Band has done all the work for you. HHHH

DOWNLOAD: Heavy is the Head, Beautiful Drug

— Bruce Leperre

 

Classical

Marc-Andre Hamelin/Takács Quartet

Shostakovich Piano Quintet/String Quartet No. 2 (Hyperion)

ONE of Canada’s most prolific recording artists, acclaimed Montreal-born pianist Marc-André Hamelin joins forces with Hungary’s Takács Quartet in this new release offering two of Shostakovich’s chamber works.

Piano Quintet, composed for the Beethoven Quartet in 1940 and notably premièred by the composer at the keyboard, is one of Shostakovich’s most popular small-ensemble pieces. Hamelin’s muscular opening solo immediately asserts and maintains his presence in first movement, Prelude: Lento. The quintet holds back during the more suppressed Fugue: Adagio, while the Scherzo is a rollicking tumble, counterbalanced by neo-baroque aria Intermezzo. The Finale: Allegretto shows this tightly knit ensemble at its best where each player — and especially Hamelin — sensitively respond to each other as one part of a much greater whole.

Also included is the composer’s String Quartet No. 2 in A major, Op. 68. The now Boulder, Colo.-based quartet infuses its opening movement, Overture: Moderato con moto, with the vivacity of a village folk dance before the plaintive Recitative and Romance, which also features first violin Edward Dusinberre’s expressive solo. Karoly Schranz (second violin), Geraldine Walthier (viola) and Andras Fejer (cello) join the musical conversation as sympathetic string compatriots. The muted Waltz showcases the foursome’s clean playing as they fly through its anxiety-riddled textures, as well as during finale Theme and Variations, ultimately recalling the work’s more expansive opening movement. HHHH

— Holly Harris