If I were to list off three entities in Canada that I loved, these folks would be near the top of the list:
Geoff Berner, the accordion-playing, drunken klezmer maniac who’s been touring behind his black humour albums for years now.
Socalled, another klezmer artist, this time one of out of Montreal who blends Jewish folk music with hip-hop influences.
And Mint Records, the Vancouver-based contender for Canada’s best label.
In a recent message to his fans, Berner announced that he would be signing to Mint, and that Socalled would be producing his new record. Holy shit:
Not to cast any aspersions on the other fine labels that I’ve worked with in the past, but I must tell you that ever since I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to be a Mint Recording Artist. They’re enthusiastic about music, extremely well-organized, with impeccable taste (of course) and unshakeable confidence in their artists. Here’s what I plan to do with their confidence:
I’m road testing some new songs, by playing shows in Ontario and Quebec with my trio, augmented by some additional very heavy players. Then we all go into the studio in Montreal with true mad genius Josh Dolgin, aka Socalled, producing. It’s a new sound and a step further in my relentless pursuit of fucked-up klezmer.
For a taste of Berner, check out his song, “Official Theme for the Vancouver/Whistler Olympic Games (The Dead Children Were Worth It!)”.
