If there’s one thing central to Kathryn Calder’s career, it’s family. When she was a teenager, her adopted mother discovered her birth family, which happened to include half-brother and New Pornographers frontman Carl Newman. Calder just happened to be a trained pianist playing with a band called Immaculate Machine, and when Neko Case decided she wanted some time off from the New Pornographers, Newman called in his niece, who went on to tour the world and record three albums with the band. Now, she has just released her haunting solo debut, Are You My Mother? (File Under: Music), which was recorded while she was caring for her terminally ill mother. Calder took some time from touring with her New Pornographers family to make MAGNET this mix tape.
“Arrow” (download):
https://magnetmagazine.com/audio/Arrow.mp3
“Slip Away” (download):
https://magnetmagazine.com/audio/SlipAway.mp3
St. Vincent “The Strangers”
I love her arrangements, her voice, her songwriting, her musical chops in general. Actor has been one of my favourite records to listen to this year. This song has so much greatness going on. Nonstop greatness. Video
Sunset Rubdown “Shut Up I Am Dreaming Of Places Where Lovers Have Wings”
A song with so many parts, and all of those parts are amazing. All killer, no filler, for real.
https://magnetmagazine.com/audio/ShutUpIAm Dreaming.mp3
Chet “Very Old Story”
I love Ryan Beattie’s voice! Love this song.
Gigi “The Hundredth Time”
In the style of the ’60s Brill Building, Gigi’s Maintenant has great melodies, great arrangements and great feel. So much talent went into this record. This particular song is one of my faves. Video
Washed Out “Feel It All Around”
Listening to this song really does make you want to go jump in a lake, in a wonderful, literal, summery kind of way. Video
Jorge Ben “Apareceu Aparecida”
Braaaazzzzziiiiilllllllllllllll! Jorge Ben is an amazing singer. His voice is smooth like creamy peanut butter that no one is allergic to. Video
Marvin Gaye And Tammi Terrell “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
Also on the topic of amazing singers and smooth voices, this song is a classic for a reason. Video
Caetano Veloso “Baby”
This song is my love song of choice! I have no idea what they are saying aside from “Baby,” but it doesn’t even matter.
Roy Orbison “Blue Angel”
The melody is so deceptively complex in this song, and his voice is amazing. And who doesn’t love “yip yips”?! Video
Ten Kens “Ya’ll Come Back Now”
This song was written and arranaged by Dean Tzenos, who has since left Ten Kens and has another project now called Odonis Odonis. I can’t put an Odonis Odonis song in here, though, because it is unreleased. Regardless, he is ridiculously talented. Video
The Pretenders “Back On The Chain Gang”
Chrissy Hynde has one of my favourite female voices ever. Video
