Wishbook is the Regina chill-prog duo of Steve Leidal (keyboards/vocals) and Zoe Saladana (guitars). They released their debut album Everything Fades in late September. Here are three favourites from both. /Gregory Beatty
“Love My Way”
The Psychedelic Furs, Forever Now (1982)
Aside from the steady beat and synth tones, another thing I really love in this tune is the xylophone ostinato that repeats through the entire song. This is one of my favourite compositional techniques that we use in our tunes “Contact Night” and “The Mission”. Another great example is the piano in the intro/outro of ‘Something in the Night’ from Springsteen’s Darkness on the Edge of Town album. (SL) YouTube
“Win”
David Bowie, Young Americans (1975)
Everyone has a song that someone else has written that they wish they wrote. I wish I wrote this. I feel like we’ll be writing songs for the rest of our lives and still won’t come as close to putting what it sounds like inside my head out into the world. (ZS) YouTube
“I Follow You”
Melody’s Echo Chamber, self-titled (2012)
The overall lo-fi quality of this track, the airy vocals, the grittiness of the drums, the guitar arpeggios — these were all early influences on us when we started putting tunes together. I’m also a big sucker for tunes with this kind of circular chord progression. (SL) YouTube
“You Know, You Know”
Mahavishnu Orchestra, The Inner Mounting Flame (1971)
I, as normal people do, regularly fantasize about being in a ’70s prog band. There’s an unbelievable live video of this song on YouTube that I probably watch about once a month while living out a vivid daydream where John McLaughlin and I trade guitar solos back and forth. (ZS) YouTube
“Here Come the Tears”
Judas Priest, Sin After Sin (1977)
Despite what our music might lead one to believe, old school metal is one of my absolute favourite genres, and this might be my favourite album by my favourite band. This is a great sad song with a great build. Rob Halford is a living legend and is probably the only vocalist who can wail out a totally metal and totally honest love song. (SL) YouTube
“Hiss Golden Messenger”
Way Back in the Way Back, Quietly Blowing It (2021)
The first time I heard this song I had to instantly listen to it again because I was shocked at how much I liked it! I love how it uses Wurlitzer and guitars in a modern chord progression. It sounds both new and timeless, and has the electric guitar tone of my dreams. (ZS) YouTube