That group includes local luminaries Daniela Gesundheit (Snowblink), Tamara Lindemen (The Weather Station), Amy Learmonth (The Youngest), Ivy Mairi and OG choir member Kari Peddle. Their in-house sound shaman and occasional drummer Leon Taheny (Final Fantasy, ohbijou) has manned the boards for all of the bands releases. In 2008 the band dropped their debut 7”. The band’s debut album, A Mountain is a Mouth, was released February 3, 2009 on their own Bruce Trail Records. Former contributors include Taylor Kirk (Timber Timbre), Casey Mecija (ohbijou), Katie Stelmanis, Maya Postepski, Isla Craig, Christienne Chesney, Matt Dunn (MV&EE) and Mike Smith (Muskox). The instrumental elements have expanded into new terrain (unlike most folk bands, prog isn’t a dirty word for this band), but Bruce Peninsula’s focus is devoted to the singing, first and foremost. Singing from the gut, singing with gusto, singing the way we were made to sing… The early, simple call-and-responses have given way to more elaborate harmonies and compositions over time, but the teachings of those timeless old recordings from the American south remain intact. There is no denying the power and conviction of old spiritual singers like Vera Ward Hall or Washington Phillips. And while each member of the band may have their own take on the powers that be, the words those legends sang (and, more importantly, the way they sang them) have forever converted Bruce Peninsula into devotees of the church of song. The surge of experimental music in Toronto has been equally important for Bruce Peninsula, bestowing upon them a wide-eyed, anything-goes mentality. Purists may argue that the blues or folk tradition can’t be properly expressed without an old steel string and a slide, but this band has never been too concerned with trying to crack open closed minds. And so, a march of metalophone, lap-steel, zithers, and bells. Of drums and sticks and any other oddities of interesting and pleasing tone. Voices blaring all the while. |
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