Music

Montreal's Nennen is a sadcore force of nature

by Jesse Locke

No Rest for the Obsessed is a column spotlighting some of the most exciting new music AUX Editor Jesse Locke finds each week. It began in 2010 for Calgary’s dearly departed alt-weekly FFWD, and takes its name from a Lightning Bolt song.

Nennen – “Villeray”

As Nennen, Montreal’s Amy MacDonald paints a melancholy portrait of life between moments. “Villeray” is the latest song from her forthcoming album Two Mountains, strumming, shimmering, and softly intoning through six and a half minutes. Sink into it like a hot toddy in an empty bar. Under waves of glacially paced guitar and muted melodies, MacDonald is joined by members of Ought and Lungbutter, floating up towards the light.

Nennen’s album release shows are February 24th at Toronto’s Burdock and February 29th at Montreal’s Casa del Popolo.

Nailbiter – “Live Improvisation #1”

Toronto’s Nailbiter brings an entirely different trance-inducing force. The modular electronic solo project of Josh Korody (when he’s somehow not busy with the bands Belief, Wish, and Breeze) finds his dreams of wires shifting into industrial nightmares. This live improvisation recorded at an apartment party thumps, bumps, and squelches long into the night.

On Saturday, February 20th, Korody will celebrate his birthday at Toronto’s Endless City Gallery in a series of collaborations with members of Schønsee and Fake Palms.

Hooded Fang – “Tunnel Vision”

It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Toronto’s Hooded Fang, but the band’s members haven’t been sleeping. The last few years have been jam-packed with projects ranging from Phèdre to Lee Paradise to the Holiday Rambler (not to mention April Aliermo fearlessly tackling issues of racism in the Canadian music community).

Now, the twitchy post-punk quartet crank up the furnace with a blast of hypno-heat from their upcoming album Venus On Edge. It’s out May 13th on the band’s own Daps Records.

Yoko Ono – “Give Me Something” (Sparks Remix)

Yoko Ono continues to confound and amaze at age 83. Her latest release Yes, I’m A Witch Too follows up a similarly named 2007 collection with remixes from the rogues’ gallery of Moby, Death Cab for Cutie, Cibo Matto, and more.

The best of the bunch is an orchestrally stabbed reimagining of her 1980 Double Fantasy number “Give Me Something” from the skillful hands of Sparks. If you’re not familiar with the LA glam-pop lifers, lean into the discography of brothers Ron and Russell Mael for an equally confounding and amazing body of work.