Single Servings, June 28, 2021

By Jason Schneider

This week’s Single Servings finds Tokyo Police Club’s Dave Monks flying solo again, Del Barber singing another prairie tune, a wave of ‘80s-inspired synth pop, and much more!

Our Lady Peace – Stop Making Stupid People Famous (feat. Pussy Riot)

Release Date: June 25

Label: Coalition Music

You gotta love a title like that, especially coming from a band whose recent output hasn’t exactly been setting the world on fire. But this definitely ain’t your grandad’s OLP; aside from the completely unexpected collaboration with Russia’s most famous activists, this track’s overall spiky, post-punk sound and Raine Maida’s almost unrecognizable vocals suggests that they really want to matter again. You gotta love that too.

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Felix Cartal – Happy Hour (feat. Kiiara)

Release Date: June 25

Label: Physical Presents

B.C.-based producer/DJ Cartal has steadily built up his international profile over the past decade, in part by working with a diverse array of vocalists spanning nearly all genres. He keeps that going on his new album Expensive Sounds For Nice People, which includes collaborations with Lights and Sophie Simmons (yes, Gene Simmons’ daughter). This track with American electro-pop star Kiiara is a perfect blend of styles that adds up to pure pop bliss.

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Del Barber – Meantime

Release Date: June 25

Label: Acronym Records

The Manitoba troubadour is set to follow up 2019’s Juno-nominated Easy Keeper on Aug. 20 with Stray Dogs, a collection of previously banked ideas given new life over the past year of pandemic isolation. The gorgeous Meantime is relatively new though, a statement of resilience, with the video appropriately filmed at Del’s favourite Winnipeg venue, Times Change(d).

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Summersets – Pass Me By

Release Date: June 25

Label: Independent

The ongoing collaboration between indie-pop songsmiths Kalle Mattson and Andrew Sowka will release Small Town Sunday, the second of a planned trilogy of EPs, on Aug. 6. The latest preview, Pass Me By, glows with producer Jim Bryson’s typically exquisite touch. As a song dripping with nostalgia, it’s nicely complemented by a video consisting of some vintage home movies of the duo’s native Sault Ste. Marie.

Bandcamp

Absolutely Free – How To Paint Clouds

Release Date: June 21

Label: Boiled Records

This veteran Toronto experimental collective—originally rising from the ashes of art-punks DD/MM/YYYY—will release Aftertouch in September, only its second proper album in seven years. There have been a lot of technological advancements during that time, and in making the video for the expansive, synth-driven single How To Paint Clouds, they took 2000 images of cloud paintings and combined them using a custom-made algorithm. Or something like that. Looks cool though.

Purchase/Stream here

Dave Monks – Wild Like Me

Release Date: June 22

Label: Ghost Pepper Records

Tokyo Police Club frontman Monks has never seemed hesitant to work outside the group, and he’s got a second solo album on the way later this year called I’ve Always Wanted To Me, to be the first release on his own label. Wild Like Me certainly sounds like a declaration of independence in terms of heading further into the psych-pop realm than Monks ever has before. Bonus points for bravely busting out some TikTok-ready dance moves in the video.

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Ellis – Hell (feat. Brandon Williams)

Release Date: June 25

Label: Believe Music

Are power ballads still a thing? This new track from Hamilton dream-pop artist Ellis could probably qualify. As a duet with Chastity’s Brandon Williams, its sonic sweep is as ambitious as its subject, i.e. what happens when we die. Might be a little dark for commercial radio, but hey, Phil Collins had a hit with Against All Odds. Hell is on Ellis’s new EP Nothing Is Sacred Anymore.

Purchase/Stream here

LOLAA – Besame / Shake My Hand

Release Date: June 25

Label: Arts & Crafts Mexico

This duo comprised of Toronto-based sisters Lex Valentine and Nadia King has proved themselves innovators in terms of making alt-pop in both English and Spanish, and their upcoming full-length debut album La Marea promises to show off their abilities to the fullest extent. English track Shake My Hand grooves with a lot of ‘80s sheen, and is complemented by its Spanish companion piece Besame, also available now.

Purchase/Stream here  

Favours – Left Behind

Release Date: June 11

Label: Independent

Another duo! This one, comprised of Toronto’s Alexander Zen and Jacq Andrade, also seems like they’ve time travelled from the mid-‘80s, but Left Behind does contains a hint of fuzz thanks to production guidance from Broken Social Scene’s Brendan Canning. If this is what all the kids are into, it might be a good time to put that old synth taking up space in your garage on the market.

Purchase/Stream here 

Kyle McKearney – Each And Every Day

Release Date: June 25

Label: Independent

Anticipation continues to build for this Calgary-based singer/songwriter’s debut solo album Down-Home, now confirmed to arrive Oct. 1. The latest single Each And Every Day is another great showcase for his soulful voice and poignant lyricism. It’s captured in its raw essence in the video shot live at Calgary’s The Speakeasy Garage.

Purchase/Stream here