Synthposium Vol 11 Montréal Edition Challenge 2: DUOS

  • Les’ pick: Handsome Furs - Serve the People

    Consisting of the married couple Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade) and writer Alexei Perry, Handsome Furs have been part of the late 2000’s trend of indie rock embracing the synthesizer. Blending the rock inclinations of Boeckner with experimental beats and synths created by Perry, Handsome Furs represent a collaboration where two different styles are interwoven seamlessly into a cohesive unit. 

  • Lara’s pick: Lime - Your Love

    Another (formerly) married couple duo from Montréal consisting of Denyse and Denis LePage, Lime created some infectious disco dance hits in the ’80s, though eventually they hired two younger and “more attractive” performers to represent them in live settings. Quirky vocals, sincere sentiments, and masters of catchy hooks, Lime is charming for both its songful delivery as well as the interesting back and follow-up stories (which are discussed in the podcast below) that surround this offbeat Montréal disco duo. Check out the original duo perform the #1 Billboard Dance chart song “Your Love.” 

Of course, don’t forget to listen to/download the podcast below!

Synthposium Volume 11 (Montréal edition) Challenge 2: DUOS by synthposium4

Synthposium vol. 11 Montréal Edition - Challenge 1

SCENE SURVEY:  WHICH ELECTRONIC SUB-GENRES ARE ALIVE TODAY IN MONTRÉAL?

  • Lara’s pick - liquid feeling/cinematic instrumental:  CFCF - Exercise #3 (Building)
Got to know CFCF via the Elite Gymnastics remix “Here, In Heaven 4 & 5” (which is available for download here), enjoyed the tender and frosty soundscape, looked them up and not only is he based in Montréal but he just released a stellar new EP Exercises, last week with Paper Bag Records.  Also if you dug the John Maus/Ms. 45 mashup be sure to check out CFCF/Nuits Rouges video by Alex Jones.

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  • Les’ pick - garage-influenced house:  Jacques Green - Another Girl
Jacques Greene came to our attention for his remix of Kelly Rowland’s epic slowjam “Motivation”, in which he gave a dancefloor seducer a more kinetic pulse.  His sound is distinct with his R&B samples immersed in lush ambience and fluttering beats, “Another Girl” features vocal samples by Ciara, from her cover of “Deuces” by Chris Brown.

-Lara

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Synthposium Vol 11 (Montréal edition) Challenge 1: Scene Survey by synthposium4

SYNTHPOSIUM VOL. 11 CHALLENGES

MONTREAL EDITION:

  1. scene survey:  which electronic sub-genres are alive today in montreal?
  2. duos: find a synth/electronic pair and discuss what they brought to each other
  3. alumni: choose an alumnus from a montreal university who went on to create/innovate music/technology
  4. research an electronic (or any) music festival in montreal.  how did it start?  who played?  what now?

until then, here’s montreal new wave group rational youth:

Synthposium Vol 10 Challenge 4

SIGNATURE SYNTHS: FIND A SYNTH SOUND THAT IS UNIQUE TO A PARTICULAR ARTIST. HOW DID THEY MAKE THE SOUND?

  • Lara’s pick - New Order: The Perfect Kiss

From their 1985 album Low Life, Gillian Gilbert plays the Voyetra-8 on this track, giving the band the melancholy atmospheric sound that is signature to many of their tracks. The video for this track has allusions to the death of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis…can you spot them on your own? 

  • Les’ pick -  Justice: Genesis
French electronic duo Justice pushed the capabilities of digital software to the maximum on their 2007 debut † . Rumours about the creation of this album abound, including one where they locked themselves in a basement for 3 months to work on it undisturbed, and another where they only used alarm clock radio speakers for monitors. Regardless of how they made this album, Justice will forever be known for shamelessly pushing the frontier of digital music. 
Don’t forget to listen to the podcast below, where we discuss these tracks in further detail!

Synthposium Vol. 10 Challenge 4: Signature Synths by synthposium3

Synthposium Vol. 10 Challenge 3 Part 2

GEAR TRENDS:  FIND MUSICIANS OF THE SAME ERA WHO USED THE SAME SYNTH AND DISCUSS HOW IT WAS USED DIFFERENTLY

  • Lara’s pick: ARP 2600

Originally manufactured in the ’70s, the ARP 2600 is a semi-modular analog subtractive audio synthesizer. It was unique for its time in that most other synthesizers required modules to be purchased individually while the ARP had many components already internally pre-wired. At first heavily marketed to educational institutions, it eventually experienced enduring popularity and widespread use, even making the sound of R2D2’s voice in Star Wars! As a testament to its longevity, check out how its used in two late ’90s  tracks by electronica greats Orbital and The Chemical Brothers. 

Don’t forget to check out the podcast below!

Synthposium Vol. 10 Challenge 3 Part 2: Gear Trends (Lara) by synthposium3

-Les

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