Music | Gregory Beatty | Feb. 10, 2022
Julia Boughner, alias Dr. B., has been sciencing how animal faces grow and evolve since 1998. In 2010, she established her own evo-devo research lab at University of Saskatchewan. She also runs Saskatoon’s free scientist-in-a-pub series: Café Scientifique-YXE. Talks are over Zoom for now, but Julia hopes to shift back to Winston’s Pub and the 21st St Brewery as soon as the pandemic allows. For upcoming talks, see CafeSciSaskatoon (Facebook) or e-mail CafeSciSaskatoon@gmail.com /Gregory Beatty
“Intergalactic Planetary”
Beastie Boys, Hello Nasty (1998)
‘If you try to knock me, you’ll get mocked. I’ll stir fry you in my wok. Your knees’ll start shakin’ and your fingers pop, like a pinch on the neck of Mister Spock.’ Poetry. The Beasties are irreverent experimentalists with enviable lyrical chicaneries. Their sonic science inspires my biology. YouTube
“Sirens”
The Pack A.D., Unpersons (2011)
The Vancouver-based Pack a.d. and have been a consistent soundtrack of my life since I hosted my indie science radio show My Science Project on UBC’s CiTR 101.9 FM in the aughts. Pandemic notwithstanding, they’re one of the few bands I’ll drag my old bones out to support when they play Saskatoon. All ur garage rock are belong to Becky and Maya. YouTube
“Bulbiform”
TR/ST, TRST (2012)
I was lucky (in my mind at least) to be a ’90s teen when Toronto’s goth scene was serviced by several dance clubs that didn’t check ID too closely (dim lighting, I guess). This crunchy, grimy banger from Toronto-based TR/ST also mashes the best inclinations of ’90s house music with a deliciously broody modern gothic vibe. Why, yes: vampires are the opposite of science. YouTube
“Sound Check (Gravity)”
Gorillaz, self-titled (2001)
Actually, any song by Gorillaz and, for that matter, Damon Albarn, a primate born with a silver groove in his mouth. He’s an intriguing artist who continues to evolve. YouTube
“Sunfire Drug Haus”
The Radiation Flowers, self-titled (2015)
I often write research articles and grant proposals while listening to music. I like shoegaze. I like local indie bands. Saskatoon’s Radiation Flowers had me at Powder Blue. Bandcamp
“Komorebi”
plasticbrass, I Pulled the Plug but it’s Still On (2020)
Another local artist, heavy on the synth. ‘Komorebi’ is a Japanese term for “sunlight filtering through trees”. It reminds me of my singular visit to Japan in 2018 to attend a scientific conference. Also, I played Space Invaders on a 10-foot-tall screen in Tokyo’s Akihabara. Is this pandemic over yet? Bandcamp