Local CDs go from old-tyme country to old-school hip-hop

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/05/2005 (7765 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A studio geek-turned-downtempo phenom. A multi-ethnic local hip-hop institution. A roots compilation curated by a man who puts “janitor/president” on his business card.

Three new albums out of Winnipeg this week offer electronic soundscapes, urban grooves and down-and-dirty country, blues and bluegrass. And for once, the CD release parties aren’t going head-to-head, which means you can check out everything the city’s music scene has to offer this week without running around.

Here’s what’s going on:

FASCADE@137db

The artist: North End electronic producer Waylon Wityshyn, who came out of nowhere in 2002 with a playful, Ninja Tune-inspired EP called The Premonition.

The new album: Full-length debut Character of the Moment, a new less-sample-dependent outing slated for release by Winnipeg’s Balanced Records.

The CD-release party: Tonight at Barca Club at Confusion Corner, with help from vocalists Sarah Michaelson, Fenom from hip-hop crew Bonafied, Karen Asmundson from indie duo Querkus and somebody named Flutegirl. Fascade also promises guest appearances by Winnipeg hip-hop regulars Sound Barriers, Turn the Gun, Grubbs, Influence, Satchel Paige and DJ Dialog.

Why fewer samples? “The sound has evolved. I also wanted to work with a lot more people, especially vocalists,” says Wityshyn. “And when you do something a little bit more organic, you can market it for commercial purposes — you know, TV and radio commercials.”

The damage: $5 at the door.

TIMES CHANGE(D) HIGH & LONESOME CLUB

The artists: Some of the acts who frequent Main Street roots-music hangout Times Change(d).

The new album: Winnipeg: The High & Lonesome Years — Vol. III, yet another Times Change(d) compilation, this time featuring tracks by blues guitarist Big Dave McLean, cowboy Stew Clayton, bluegrass monsters the D. Rangers, blues-rock trio the Perpetrators, trucker-bluesman Righteous Ike and singer-songwriters Knick Knackerson, Percy Tuesday and Cruise Waters.

The CD-release parties: May 28-29 at Times Change(d). Saturday’s lineup includes the D. Rangers, Tuesday, the Jakebrakes and Marty Green, while McLean, Ike, Waters and the Perps play Sunday.

Why make this a trilogy? “With the Star Wars saga coming to a conclusion, this gives us a nice counterpoint, in terms of cultural sagas,” says proprietor John Scoles, tongue planted firmly in bourbon-coated cheek. “The highlight for me, is to have Big Dave on it. We tried to have him before, but the timing wasn’t right, (given) his deal with Stony Plain Records.”

The damage: $5, or free with a $15 purchase of the CD.

MOOD RUFF

The artist: Winnipeg’s longest-running, continuously active hip-hop outfit.

The new album: I Do My Own Stunts, the fourth album by the MCs Odario (Garfield Williams), Spitz (Eli Epp) and DJ ICQRI (Kevin Williams), released by the band’s own Slo Coach label and distributed across Canada by Outside Music.

The CD-release party: Friday at Energy Lounge, the club side of Pembina Highway Caribbean restaurant Vernaz. Mood Ruff gets some help from close friends Shadez and vocalists Lisa Bell and Arinze and MC John Smith, who all contributed to Stunts.

What does it sound like? “This is the first time we’ve done an album with a beginning, middle and end,” says Spitz. “There’s a lot of old-school feel — and a lot of feel you haven’t felt before.”

The damage: $5 before 11 p.m., $10 afterward.

bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca