The algorithms are getting me down, folks. Whenever I turn on a device, flip through an app, or even look at something IRL, I feel as if someone or some sentient thing is tracking my moves and making notes about my body language.
Honestly, I hold no allusions that Bandcamp isn’t doing the exact same thing when I use their search bar to find unique and underappreciated Canadian music. But I do get a certain tingly thrill when I ask Bandcamp to filter Canadian-only releases and serve them up in “surprise me” random order (versus best-selling or latest releases) because I rarely see the same thing twice.
So that’s the concept for this column (which may or may not become a recurring feature): asking Bandcamp to randomly sort its releases from Canada, from any genre and any time, and then picking five from the first batch the site suggests to share with you here. My criteria for picking these five? Nothing specific: maybe it’s the cover art, an intriguing name, or pure gut instinct that’s led me to click play on that particular release. Let’s see how this goes.
BLNCE, For: Winona // Love: BLNCE
Edmonton AB, 5 tracks, 14 minutes, released March 18, 2016
With absolutely no band bio or social media links to speak of, I can’t track down anything about the Edmonton-based outfit BLNCE for the life of me. For: Winona // Love: BLNCE is one of three releases they shared in 2016. They also have a three-track EP that dropped in 2022 and a one-off 14-minute track from 2021, which all follow a similar pattern of mixing sound clips, film dialogue, and random bursts of slinky electronic beats. They’ve set their catalogue as “name your price” but don’t have any visible supporters, and that’s a crying shame.
bozophobia, a summer (ft. my dogs)
Canada (location not otherwise specified), 5 tracks, 15 minutes, released February 04, 2017
Again, there is very little to go on about bozophobia besides a bio that reads “lo-fi recordings from a canadian nobody.” Lo-fi? For sure, given how some tracks sound like they’re being played back underwater. Nobody? That’s debatable because there’s certainly somebody behind that vulnerable, wavering croon on “okay” and I, for one, would love to know who they are.
“Fantasy Of Scooby And Shaggy” and “Fantasy Of Scooby And Shaggy (Epilogue)” by Tony Ezzy, from the LP, Ker-Smash!
Montreal QC, released February 14, 2011
Comedy albums are not my thing, but I found myself oddly compelled by the epilogue to this weird fan-fic fantasy about Scooby and Shaggy to listen through to the end and then go back and play it from the actual song itself. I didn’t venture further into Tony Ezzy’s 18-song, hour-long 2011 release (on which he performs all vocals, clarinet, bass clarinet, beats, keys and guitar. Still, under the influence of the right chemical compounds, I could see how Ker-Smash! might make for some crazy listening.
Cantoo, 2 EP
Edmonton AB, 5 tracks, 16 minutes, released May 18, 2018
A couple of things instantly drew me to Cantoo: the vivid colours of their EP’s cover art and the mention of Jom Comyn as a feature on the track “White Was the Sun.” Cantoo tags their sound as melodic pop, psych synth, and vintage, all of which suit this Edmonton-based project to a tee. I’m buzzing from the classic-sounding psychedelic swirl of “So You Know My Thoughts,” which might very well end up on an upcoming episode of Quick Before it Melts. Cantoo’s 2 EP is definitely in the running for the best find of the lot so far, given that there’s only one more to go.
Gemstones, Nevermind EP
Dartmouth NS, 5 tracks, 25 minutes, released February 26, 2021
I don’t know whether I was familiar with Dartmouth punk purveyors Gemstones beforehand or not, but I can see from their Bandcamp supporter list that they are admired by a tastemaker whose opinion I highly value: Adam White of Some Party. The Nevermind EP may borrow its name from another highly regarded release by a power trio, but Gemstones stand on their own six feet. It’s essentially a four-song release, with the first track a start-to-finish run-through of the songs “No one,” “Perfect,” “Yesterdaze,” and “Drive.” Makes sense, given that Nevermind is a no-skip delight.
What did you think? Should we do this little exercise again? Give us your feedback and let us know what you thought of this column or suggest other ideas for stories and features you’d like to see on DOMINIONATED.
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