The Wake

When I think of music and Canada, a barrage of Bare Naked Losers – oh, I mean Ladies – a certain country singer turned pop punk (*cough* Avril Lavigne) and bodies drowning to the sound of Celine Dion’s Titanic of tunes fill my aggravated ears. But, no longer. One of the most eclectic and dare I say, easy on the eardrums, band as of late has actually come from this same former, northern wasteland . They are Apostle of Hustle and their new CD is “Folkloric Feel.”

Praise the Lord that head Apostle Andrew Whiteman (Broken Social Scene) visited Cuba for two months instead of attending the same last supper as his predecessor, St. Andrew, did thousands of years ago. Without this sunny stint, “Folkloric Feel” would not have weaved such lush Latin rhythms and culture into its songs. Never fear, the musical entourage does not end there. Bits of jazz, threads of folk, ripples of rock, and even elements of electronica are present in it’s songs of alcohol, thankless love, and of course, another indie cliché, a Spanish surrealist poet. Of course.

Whiteman may just consider this CD a side project, but with contributions from Amy Milan (Stars) and Feist, as well as others, and songs that take listeners from playful to mysterious to moody and forlorn, it is a step above the side project status. I liked “Folkloric Feel” as much as I like Canadian bacon and pineapple pizza. It just hits the spot. I smile; belly and ears content, and wonder why ham, when put on pizza, is called Canadian bacon in the first place.