New music

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This article was published 12/09/2019 (2552 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Pop / Soul

Begonia

Fear (Independent)

The blossoming of Begonia has been wonderful to behold. Over the past three years, Winnipeg’s Alexa Dirks (formerly part of Chic Gamine) has established herself as an expressive singer; evocative songwriter; and powerful, flamboyant performer.

Her 2017 debut recording, a five-song EP called Lady in Mind, caught the ears of influencers at both CBC Music and NPR.

The essence of Begonia’s appeal is her voice, a soulful mezzo-soprano capable of both gutsy gospel shouting and soaring, ethereal heights. But Dirks’ vocal cords aren’t everything about her. On her first full-length album, she and her band work with producers Matt Peters and Matt Schellenberg (both of Royal Canoe) and Marcus Paquin (who’s worked with Arcade Fire and the National, among others) to create a sonic palette that includes shades of gospel (The Other Side), old soul (Put it Away), ironic modern synth-pop (The Light), elegant R&B (Living at the Ceiling), funky jazz poetry (Fear) and even elements of disco (Hanging on a Line).

Then there are Dirks’ lyrics, which express her heart-and-soul-baring doubts of faith (The Other Side), love (on the extraordinary Two Beers In) and conscience (Mirror Talk).

Taken together, Begonia’s Fear is a formidable statement. Long may she bloom.

★★★★ out of five

STREAM THESE: The Other Side, The Light, Fear

— John Kendle

 

Rock

Iggy Pop

Free (Loma Vista Recordings)

Iggy Pop’s latest album comes with a statement of purpose from the artist. Apparently the Godfather of Punk has a chronic insecurity problem that has dogged him his whole life and, after the recent tour to promote his previous album, Post Pop Depression, he felt it was time to deal with it.

Free is a cathartic musical move away from his standard rock-god persona and an expedition that not every fan will want to follow. Instead of a raging and thumping rock band, Pop has engaged a jazzier combo, led by trumpeter and composer Leron Thomas. Pop himself is no stranger to musical asides, as catalogue-filler albums such as the eccentric Avenue B, the overly radio-friendly Blah-Blah-Blah and the offbeat duo of Préliminaires and Après showcase.

Loves Missing is reminiscent of the recording sound from Post Pop Depression, with a heavy bassline and tense, slow-motion arrangement. After that, the album becomes kind of a crapshoot of Pop’s wandering aspiration.

The final three tracks of Free are mostly spoken-word offerings and include a Lou Reed poem (We Are the People), Welsh poet Dylan Thomas’s Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night and Pop’s own The Dawn. An album that would definitely benefit from the love of diehard fans, but casual punk Pop fans should feel free to pass this set by.

★★★ out of five

STREAM THIS: Loves Missing

— Jeff Monk

 

Jazz

Surefire Sweat

Surefire Sweat (Independent)

This Toronto band with the wonderfully evocative name plays a mix of straight-up jazz, funk and world music. The octet here is under the general leadership of drummer Larry Graves, with what is described as multi-generational personnel. There is a definite fusion feel to many tracks, and the arrangements often sound almost retro, with fine solos from trumpeter Brad Eaton, tenor player Elena Kapeleris and guitarist Paul MacDougall.

Rhythms include many Latin-driven moments with horn choruses over the solo, and there is also a dance band feel to much of the music. (Yes, you could actually dance to some tracks.) Tracks like A Tale of Two Times have a slow Latin burn, while Sunshine Interference, for example, drives relentlessly.

There is much to enjoy with an album that has both driving rhythms and boundless energy. While not earth-shatteringly innovative, the musical moods and these solid musicians bring a lot to the table. All eight compositions are by drummer Graves, who apparently had worked for a long time to assemble this band and album as a working musician and new father. Toronto, without doubt, has a real depth of jazz talent, and these perhaps lesser-known musicians demonstrate enthusiasm and commitment to the sounds they are making. The overall effect is that of a highly enjoyable romp; wide-ranging fun permeates the outing.

★★★1/2 out of five

Stream these: Threshold, Number Nine

— Keith Black

 

Classical

Grupo Encuentros: Alicia Terzian conductor

Tangos… & Something More (Navona Records)

Tango lovers will relish this fresh new bounty of 13 works inspired by the sultry Argentine dance form, performed by Buenos Aires-based chamber group Grupo Encuentros, led by Alicia Terzian.

However, the release also offers a fascinating dip through time, including more traditional fare as Aquiles Roggero’s Mimí Pinsón featuring the haunting vocals of mezzo-soprano Marta Blanco; Mariano Mores’ Cristal highlighting Daniel Binelli on bandoneon; as well as Picasso from Astor Piazzolla, surely the most popular tango composer of all time. The latter work particularly shows off the ensemble’s versatility and organic sensibility; its players also easily navigating the lushly lyrical melodic lines juxtaposed with driving rhythmic syncopations in the same composer’s later Invierno Porteno and Verano Porteño, arranged for piano trio by Terzian.

From there, it’s a sharp right turn into more contemporary landscapes — that’s the “something more” noted in the album’s title — with several newer offerings, truthfully promising to at least startle listeners, if not shock them from the sonic equivalent of a velvety bordello into a brave new world of the 21st century.

★★★1/2 out of five

— Holly Harris