Aribin Sillah Recordings

Music today has, for the most part anyways, become tangled up in everything that has nothing to do with music. Luckily, fate sometimes decides to smile upon us when it spurs those around us to do great things with music for the right reasons. A breath of fresh air is blowing in from La Belle Province, and it is called Aribin Sillah Recordings.

Hailing from Trois Riviere, this label houses a wide array of sound. There's plenty of the spastic and violent, but there's also a softer side if that's your cup of tea. This is a label built on a foundation of hard work and dedication. There is no glamour about it, no ego, this is for the love of music and the community it creates. This is a label with a heart of gold.

"The art of music means more to me that I can say. We do not consider ourselves as businessmen. We do not consider ourselves as musicians. We care about music as art, as 'moyen d'expression', as aesthetic of sound. We do not believe in playing music for popularity-money-sex-image. We believe in work. Still growing with the idea of a huge family, working together on shared ambitions. We still believe in Freedom. Respect."

www.aribinsillah.com
myspace.com/aribinsillahrecordings
Photo :: skotto robotto

Label Spotlight | Bart Records

Location

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Globe :: Red Deer Alberta Canada
Web :: www.myspace.com/revolutionwinter

Format

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Media :: Cassette Tapes
Genres :: Diy punk/ hardcore, indie, screamo-violence, math-rock, post-punk

Current Releases

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Draft Dodgers
Bayonets!!!
Gift Eaters
Taxes
Gobble Gobble
GreyScreen

Up-coming

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Compilation of Hope: A Cross-Canada Comp
Featuring: Slates, VKNGS, Special Noise, dd/mm/yyyy, GSTS!, Place hands, Whiskey Priest, Damages, Swwords, Gift Eaters

GreyScreen - Permastruct

Distributors

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Put Out the Jams

About

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A cassette label, doing small runs, for music that otherwise would never be heard outside of the band's own basement. Into the new year, expect tons of new tapes, coming out of bedrooms and basements.

Map To Temenos

I was thinking about isolation, particularly cultural and creative isolation. I pondered if the internet phenomenon truly provided a conduit to creative resource and inspiration. And, what level of interpretation occurs via the digital experience of art and culture versus the physical involvement in or of a scene type scenario. The band that was on my mind during this philosophical consideration was Map To Temenos.

Map To Temenos is a 3 piece from Newfoundland. Newfoundland is an island that is difficult to get to and also to leave in both distance and cost. So it does not get the kind of tourism and band tours that maritime neighbors PEI, Nova Scotia or New Brunswick are used to. As well, if you are an artist of any sort, the cost and effort to "get out there" is significantly higher and as a result typicaly prohibitive. The reason I though of these guys is because although they are the product of a somewhat isolated community, they did in fact tour Canada this Summer and their music/ art is unique and exiting (saw their Toronto show, AMAZING!). I feel like the music they make is as awesome as it is because they lack the criticism and drama of a "scene". I find that generally, people/ artists in more remote communities tend to rely on mainstream channels to point them in a direction regardless of the net's infinite options. MTT seem to dig for what they connect with of their own volition and are thus motivated by the mix of whatever strikes their ears with no "scene police" to diminish their efforts or ambitions.

Live, Map To Temenos really deliver the goods. Exciting, jagged rhythms and interesting chord groupings played tight and with heart. Some of the guitar parts sound nearly impossible in complexity and to top it off they sing over what they play. Technicality aside though, MTT's jams are urgent, exciting and catchy. Word is that they are moving to Montreal, so perhaps we will be hearing much more of them soon.

Photo :: Brian Williams
Myspace :: http://www.myspace.com/maptotemenos

BonVivant

Quebec as a whole has a rich history of music culture and particularly deep roots in the punk, hardcore and metal genres. However it seems like besides the few bigger break out artists, Quebec bands don't really reach out beyond their provincial border.This is too bad because there are sooo many bands that are sooo awesome. BonVivant is a very new band but a great example of the quality of bands that Quebec seems to effortlessly produce.

Montreal's BonVivant is a post-punk band that mix it up a bit. Quite poppy without being pop, a bit gnarly without being harsh, and although simple, crafty with arrangements. I tell my friends that they are new sounding but a reliable sound for a good time. Frédéric, Martin, and Charles are every bit as good live as recorded but have a party energy live that you just can't record.

If you get a chance, go party with them. Even if it's just you and their Myspace page you'll probably have a rad time.

Photo :: Louis Guillemette
BonVivant Myspace :: http://www.myspace.com/bonvivantrock

Damages

Not sure what the sudden catalyst has been for a plethora of amazing bands to pop up across the country, but I'm certainly not complaining. From East to West, high quality creativity is afoot.

Damages are Westies from Vancouver and love past brilliance such as Shotmaker, The Jesus Lizard, Swiz, Fugazi & 400 Years to name a few. The band is at least as good as their influences not having just re-written other peoples material. Damages has spun a modern twist to that fractured, melody and dissonance sound. There is word of a 7" to be out in late July/early August on Clue#2 in Canada and on Deaf Cult in Europe. Can't wait!

Damages is highly recomended!
http://www.myspace.com/damagestothearchive
Clue 2 Records :: http://www.clue2records.com/

Photo :: crop from Damages Myspace

Tonnn

Bursting with activity would best describe Tonnn's world a la moment. New recordings, A split 12" with Lice on Itchy Roof re-k&rds and a massive US tour to seal the deal. Pretty awesome! Really stoked that this band is breaking out because Tonnn are one of the few bands actively and effectively evolving the 90s, frantic emo-screamo sound to something a lot more than 6/8, octave soaked, out of control, swing jams. Tonnn are pushing it forward in big ways. Can't wait for the split to drop, if the track "The Drone" is any indicator this record will kill!

photo :: taken from Tonnn Myspace
http://www.myspace.com/tonnnrules

Hawkes

There are a few times in life where you discover music that immediately overwhelms you with a personal connection and satisfaction. Hawkes is that band, from Montreal, is a 3 piece, and plays something of a post-hardcore, Shotmaker derivative, although have very much established their own sound and personality. Check them out but be warned that you may end up listening to "Clairity Has Failed" and "Fleeting Memories" 20 times over!

top photo source :: Hawkes Myspace