The Graveyard in Matrix Sent To Graveyard

My tenure with Matrix Magazine has ended after three or more years. I was orginally brought on board to manage their album reviews section, and then about a year and a half ago, I was offered a column, which we called The Graveyard.

The Graveyard ran at about 1,000 words a pop, and I usually tried to avoid carrying them on Urban Camouflage, simply because most people don't want to read 1,000 words on their computer screen. I blame computers.

However, a couple of people recently asked about a couple of the columns, so I thought I'd carry a post that linked to all of them. So here are the collected Graveyard columns, for you to enjoy:

Graveyard - May 2006: This is the first column, and talks about the Exclaim Cup hockey tournament, indie rock and (at the time) new releases by Destroyer and Raising the Fawn.

Graveyard - September 2006: This column featured reviews of 5ive independent, Canadian albums, as my own version of the Polaris Prize (note: I did not give away $20,000).

Graveyard - January 2007: This edition of The Graveyard looked at Eno's idea of ambient music, and I related it to two glitch-hop inspired artists, EdIT and Murcof.

Graveyard - May 2007: When I wrote this column, I had spent a looooong time watching music documentaries, so I decided to write a top 5ive of ones I had recently seen. Obviously not an exhaustive list, but a fair assessment of some of the better music docs out there.

Graveyard - August 2007: Another "film" related column, this last edition of The Graveyard looked at three independent Canadian albums that took a 'cinematic' approach to songwriting.

To anyone out there who has read The Graveyard columns, or told me that they had enjoyed reading one - I just wanted to say thank you. I enjoyed writing The Graveyard, and I hope this small collection of columns, above, offers you something to read and enjoy.

I will not see you next time in the Graveyard. But I do appreciate you stopping by.

Gazette Piece on Alternative Spaces

Just a quick note to say that the piece I wrote on Montreal's alternative performance spaces (for the Gazette) was published today. It is available in print around the city (hurry! hurry!), or on the Gazette website for a week (requiring free registration after that).

However, I decided to also throw the full article up online, so if you are interested in reading it, please follow the link. I had a good time writing this and think it could warrant a much longer, more exhaustive piece at some point in the future. A future where I am not as busy and sleepy.

Let me know your thoughts on this article. I realize that there are all sorts of performance spaces that I didn't even mention (both legal and not), but must stress again how word-count became a factor in the overall presentation of the piece. The key was to keep the piece tight and focused.

I should also say again how working with the Gazette editors has been a professional and clean experience, as it continues to be notable. Also, the fact that my girlfriend is a genius and makes me look much smarter than I actually am.

Enjoy the article.

Urban Camo Update - Work & Upcoming Writing

My devoted roster of long-time readers will probably notice that there's been a bit of a gap since my last post here on Urban Camouflage. My deepest apologies - I'll send reimbursement cheques to you all soon.

The update is that I've just started a new job at a software company, and I'm very iBusy learning the e-ropes.

However, I am working away on another piece for the Gazette on some of Montreal's alternative performance spaces - a few of the abandoned or repurposed buildings around the city now being used for creative output. This little honey should be out in print in the first week of August, and I'll have it online shortly thereafter.

Also, a few people over the last few days have mentioned that the link to the last Gazette piece I wrote (on Montreal's emerging dubstep scene) requires registration on the Gazette site, so I decided to post the whole piece here.

I hope you are able to read it and enjoy it. Leave a comment if you are feeling so inclined.

Montreal Dubstep Coverage in the Gazette

Over the last several weeks I've been spending time checking out Montreal's Dubstep scene. I've been going to DJ nights and Mutek performances, doing interviews with promoters and musicians and generally just researching what is going on here with this dark and spare electronic music.

The piece I wrote about the scene ran in today's anglo newspaper, the Gazette, in their Arts & Life section. The piece can be read online, or it can be glaumed in paper form from the nearest Dep whilst picking up some Red Stripe.

On the whole, it was a great experience, and I must say that working with the Gazette was very pleasant and simple: I got clear direction, and their editors made suggestions that made sense. Now that the piece is written I feel like I can attend some of these events without being a journalist, necessarily, and just sink into the syruppy thickness of bass-driven tracks. Also, drink more.

Good times.

Ongoing Suoni Per Il Popolo Coverage

Another quick post to alert readers to the Suoni Per Il Popolo coverage that Midnight Poutine writers are providing right now. I just posted a review of the Sunburned Hand of the Man show last night at Sala Rossa, and thought it ruled with a straw-filled fist.

I'll be checking out the Sea & Cake show tonight (posting about it tomorrow), and some other weirdness a little later in June, but there should be daily coverage of the Suoni festival on Midnight Poutine for the next several weeks, if you want to know what's going on. Worth checking out.

Mutek 2007 Coverage - Dubstep

Just a fast post to say that Mutek is going on right now, and I've been checking out some of the goods. Last night's Dubstep night was heavy and impressive, featuring great sets by Sam Shackleton, Kode 9 & Spaceape, and Rhythm & Sound. I reviewed it on Midnight Poutine, so if you want to check it out, do so.

Standing around at the SAT last night I was reminded that a great thing about Mutek is the number of dudes who look like me - sporting a sort of a non-intentional Moby look (skinny white guy, short-shaved hair, glasses). Everywhere I looked, there was another near-doppelganger dancing the night away, and it occurred to me: I should round up a team of these guys for some bank heists. Nobody would be able to describe the robbers beyond generalities. If I fail to make my zillions as a freelance writer, watch out!

Midnight Poutine Podcast Guestspot

Montreal has officially entered into syrupy heat, as full summer descends on us like a hot, moist blanket. The city (famously) uses this opportunity to expose its skin, and in recognition of that, a brief note to say that I'm part of this week's Midnight Poutine podcast, where we discuss local shows, upcoming events, and the wearing of shorts and flip flops.

This is the 43rd edition of the Midnight Poutine podcast, and I'm pleased to be a part of its charming dorkdom, ably moderated by Jeremy Morris and John MacFarlane. You can have a listen here, and the podcast will give you a chance to hear everything from bluegrass and folkrock to experimental noise, synthpop and alt-riff-rock, all from bands playing in Montreal in the coming days. Remember to leave a comment if you listen in.

Enjoy the weirds! Don't forget the socks under the sandals. So cool, even today.