Month: February 2023

1/2/3/4 — #257 — The Soft Struggles

David Brewis of Field Music fame will release his debut album Soft Struggles in February 2023. Soft Struggles is full of  thoroughly-unplugged instrumentation, jazz-inflected songwriting, spontaneous ensemble playing, including dazzling contributions from Sarah Hayes and Faye MacCalman, and lush string arrangements which twist around and punctuate the songs. Captivating and essential listening.

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1/2/3/4 — #256 — Harry Cook and All Flaws

I’ve been patiently waiting for the debut EP from Harry Cook, (his gorgeous track All Flaws with vocalist/composer Hannah Cameron a real favourite of mine last year) to arrive and it’s finally here. Five quite diverse tracks that leaves a gentle, intimate impression. Harry Cook draws on his diverse experience as a classical pianist, jazz improviser, and contemporary sessional musician for The Teskey Brothers, WILSN and more to tell evocative stories through song. He joins me for a chat on this edition of 1-2-3-4. As well, fantastic tracks from Minor Gold, Josh Rennie-Hynes, Stephen Becker, Blackbirds FC and much more.

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1/2/3/4 — #255 — Leaving Limousine

Featuring the latest release from Chicago band Fran (aka Maria Jacobson) “Leaving,’ it finds the band at a crossroads of loss and possibility, forged through a preoccupation with the climate crisis as well as newfound contemplation of the intertwined nature of theology and religion. Angular, precise and filled with melodic entanglement, this is another rising female singer songwriter from the constantly evolving Chicago music scene. Excellent!

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