Jay Aymar: Walls Are Pages

By Kerry Doole

Jay Aymar - "Walls Are Pages" (Indie):  The Toronto-based roots singer-songwriter and author releases his sixth album, Your Perfect Matador, today (Oct. 12), and the advance buzz is very positive.

Our appetite is certainly whetted by this advance track and its accompanying lyric video. You can count on superior wordsmithery from this English literature graduate, and "Walls Are Pages" doesn't disappoint. As the title alludes to, Banksy is cited as an inspiration for this one, while residential schools are also referenced.

The cut has a muscular feel, accentuated by female backing vocals and a wailing guitar, while Aymar's vocal style verges on spoken word, ensuring that such evocative lyrics as "sometimes a picture is worth a thousand souls" come across clearly.

In a press release, he describes Your Perfect Matador as a collection of “deeply personal love songs," adding that “I felt these songs required an edgier feel.” 

The peer respect the hard-touring troubadour has earned is reflected the album's impressive cast list. It is produced by Michael Wojewoda (Barenaked Ladies, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Amelia Curran), who also drums on it. The rest of the A-list band comprises Champagne James Robertson on lead guitar, Robbie Grunwald on keys, and Devon Henderson on bass. Guest vocalists featured are the stellar threesome of Chloe Charles, Alejandra Ribera, and Shakura S'Aida.

Aymar launches his new album with shows at The Tech Theatre, Sault Ste. Marie, on Oct. 13 and the Al Green Theatre, Miles Nadal JCC, Toronto, on Oct. 15.

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