Shadow Folk – Rob/Steal

There’s something quietly captivating about the 2022 EP “Rob/Steal” from Truro’s Shadow Folk. The songs feel like chapters in a short story, with an energy that swirls and shifts, never staying in one place for long. A subtle nostalgia runs through it all, like dusty memories.

The opening title track, "Rob/Steal," stands out immediately, setting the tone for everything that follows. The lyrics feel personal without being private, and the arrangements leave plenty of room to breathe, reflect, and drift with the music.

The final track, "Android Attack" deviates slightly from the established mood and feels almost like a cliffhanger, hinting at something still to come. It builds anticipation rather than resolution, as though opening a door rather than closing one.

Atmospheric, thoughtful, and quietly haunting at times, Rob/Steal rewards repeated listens. Great record for getting lost in a few sketch book pages.

Rich Aucoin - Synthetic: Season 1

This record has been on repeat for me latley. It’s got this moody, late-night feel that is easy to put on and just drift with, whether you’re walking, driving, or drawing in my case :)

The album is part of his Synthetic Seasons, which is a four-part collection reflecting the energy of the seasons. It all started back when Rich was artist-in-residence at the National Music Centre in Calgary, where he had access to one of the world’s biggest collections of rare and historic synths. He recorded hours of material on a huge range of instruments before shaping it down into the 4 releases.

Standout track for me is “ESC”. That one really hits and draws me me back in for followup listens.

Also Rich’s live shows are something else. There’s a real energy and connection there that carries through everything he does. This record is just another reason to dig into his full catalog and enjoy!

NO-K - We're All Going to Be

The debut from NO-K arrives with a really open, energetic feel. We’re All Going to Be moves naturally between ideas, keeping things fluid without ever losing direction. It’s expressive, but still really focused in how it unfolds.

There’s a clear blend of influences running through it — touches of 80s pop, 90s guitar-driven energy, and a more modern experimental edge — but it all feels pulled into its own world rather than leaning on nostalgia. The result is something that feels fresh and fully its own.

I also had the chance to work on the artwork for the album, which was a great experience collaborating with them and getting to be part of the project from another angle.

Overall, it’s a confident debut — full of movement, personality, and a strong creative spark from start to finish.

Light Slams - In Code

Light Slams delivers a really captivating five song EP. It opens with “Carousel,” and from the first moments it drifts and lulls you in, holding your attention in a way that makes it hard to step away. It sets the tone beautifully and pulls you deeper into the record with each track that follows.

“Getting Things Going” is the standout for me. It carries that same sense of movement and mystery, with layered synths, relaxed beats, and lyrics that feel just out of reach in the best way. There is something really compelling about how the songs unfold. Nothing feels rushed, and every element seems to arrive exactly when it should.

The whole record has a cinematic quality that really stuck with me. It feels like the soundtrack to a movie I want to see now. There is so much space in the arrangements, and the songs leave room for your mind to wander while still keeping you fully engaged. It is the kind of release that rewards putting on headphones and giving it your full attention.

If you know Safeword, you may recognize the vocalist here, but Light Slams feels like its own fully realized world. It is a thoughtful and immersive release that stays with you long after the final song ends.

Diamondtown - What We Always Were

A new release from Diamondtown once again proves that time travel might actually be real. This record pulls you straight back into the 60s with its psych pop dreamlike scenery.

It feels like the musical version of a surfer just cruising along a wave. Everything is easy, warm, and flowing. There is a looseness to it that just puts you in a good place.

At times it honestly feels like you can feel the sun coming through the speakers. That kind of warmth, that kind of glow.

Find some time to sit with this one. Let it play through. Maybe even mind surf a few waves while you are at it.

I know I did.

Starbound - Years Apart

This album takes you somewhere else entirely. It feels spatial and immersive, like stepping into another environment for a while. Headphones on and just zone out with this one.

The production creates these expansive spaces while the vocals drift through everything in this haunting and emotional way. It really hit me in the feels. Years Apart made me pause and notice things around me a little differently.

It is also an amazing record to draw to. I love when music can unlock that flow state and start creating visuals in your mind without even trying. Close your eyes and let yourself sit with it for a while. Give yourself permission to slow down and take it all in.

Standout track for me is Feel You.

Beautiful record.

Buck 65 - Keep Moving

I started listening to Buck 65 back in 1996 when someone handed me a bootleg copy of Vertex. I was blown away. I had never heard anything like it. The lyrics opened up a whole new dimension for me, and the mood of the beats and samples felt completely unique.

His catalog goes everywhere. There are moments of commercial success, but also a lot of hidden gems, sometimes released under different names. It is very worth going down that rabbit hole, just know it is not a straight path. It twists and turns in the best way.

In recent years, after a long break, Buck 65, who is really a true student of hip hop, has come back with a lot of energy. It feels like he is making up for lost time and setting things straight. Since 2023 especially, he has been putting out a steady stream of music and we all benefit from that.

His most recent release feels like a return to those early Vertex days. The rhyming style, the beat making, it all taps back into that raw, original feel. It is the kind of record that opens more doors than it closes when it comes to the lyrics. It leaves space to think and come back again.

On top of that, his Substack has been a great addition. He shares behind the scenes thoughts, breakdowns, and stories that give you a deeper look into the work.

Take the time with this one. Enjoy it. Thank me later.

S.Ayton - Please

This record grabbed me right away and I keep coming back to it. The vocals are what pulled me in first. On the opening track Do You Like to Drive it felt like I was watching a painting slowly come together. Like the scene was revealing itself bit by bit as the song moved forward.

There is something about the voice that just sticks with you. It keeps you locked in without trying too hard. It feels effortless but also really intentional.

The arrangements are soft and ambient and they kind of wrap around you. It is an easy record to sink into but there is still a lot going on if you sit with it.

It is the kind of album you throw on and before you know it you have listened all the way through. And then you go back again.

Mr Burns - Grown Folks Music

I met Mr. Burns mid surf session one day, and between waves I learned about his music and that this project was in the works. Hearing Grown Folks Music now calls back to that moment, and to how amazing it is to discover people’s creative side.

Grown Folks Music brings together a classic boom bap foundation with more contemporary themes, creating a sound that feels grounded in hip hop tradition while still staying present. The production is built on steady, loop-driven beats that give each track space to breathe, with verses that land clean and purposeful.

The lyrics moves smoothly between reflection and sharper social observation, with a strong focus on storytelling and detail and there’s a thoughtful balance in how the ideas are delivered.

The artwork for the cover was done by the rad folks at Fogbank Merch Co. who also do amazing printing and merch, check them out too!

Rose Cousins - Conditions of Love. Vol 1

Rose Cousins has a way of slowing things down and pulling you in. Her songs do not rush. They take their time and move through different kinds of love with a quiet and honest feeling that never feels forced.

There is a real sense of comfort to this record, like being wrapped in a musical quilt. The piano plays a big role in that. It is soft, a little haunting, and full of space. The songs feel full and open but still close and personal at the same time.

Forget Me Not stands out early and sets the tone. It is simple but it lands, and the rest of the album follows that same path. Nothing feels over the top. The songs are thoughtful and give you room to feel whatever comes up.

It pairs perfectly with a grey misty day on the coast here in Nova Scotia, but it works anywhere. Listening on vinyl makes it even better. The warmth and the process of putting the record on just fits the mood.

What stays with you is how much space the album gives you. It does not try to tell you what to feel. It just sits with you, and that is what makes it stick.

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Ryan Hemsworth - Mix Archives 2010/2020

A true treasure trove of mixes that stretch across hours, this collection is something you keep returning to. It is not just background listening, it is something you move in and out of over time, always finding something new depending on your mood or moment.

In this collection, Ryan really shows his skill in how he brings everything together. Each mix feels carefully chosen and thoughtfully built, like he is setting up different audio worlds for different situations. It never feels random. There is intention in how everything flows.

What stands out most is his ability to shape a listening journey. The way he blends tracks and builds energy feels like a story unfolding through sound. It is smooth, layered, and easy to get lost in. You are not just hearing songs, you are moving through an experience.

It ends up feeling like a sonic choose your own adventure. You can put it on and let it guide you, or drift in and out depending on what you need from it. Either way, it never really misses.

One of the standouts for me is the cool DJ mix…

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Dog Day - Deformer

Deformer is a record that just feels real in every way. It has the perfect amount of fuzz and magic, and it’s full of small moments that stick with you. Songs move in a natural way, and there’s a warmth running through the whole record that gives it a really special presence.

What stands out is how much care and intention is in every part of it. Everything sits exactly where it needs to, and the record flows with a strong sense of identity. The guitars have this glowing texture, and it all holds together in a really inviting atmosphere.

Standout track for me is “Eurozone” — it carries that same atmosphere, but one line really stays with me: “I wanna hang out with some people I don’t already know.” It’s simple and honest.

Deformer is a fantastic record — full of feeling, intention, and character. The kind of album that stays with you and keeps revealing more every time you return to it.

Beauts - Marigolds

This record feels really soft and dreamy from start to finish. It kind of drifts along in this warm, hazy space that never feels in a rush, but still gives me the feeling of being on a journey.

The songs feel ripe for pondering things like time going by, choices you make, looking back, and all those small everyday thoughts that show up when things get quiet. Nothing feels overdone, just honest and human.

The whole record has this gentle mood to it. Everything feels a bit blurred at the edges in a nice way, like you are hearing memories instead of sharp moments. It still feels grounded though, like there is real weight under the softness.

It ends up being a really easy record to sit with and draw to.