There are always a few things you can rely on in Winnipeg on a yearly basis: the Blue Bombers will be mediocre at best, the weather in January will push your commitment to living in this fine city to the brink, and Grand Analog will release a record that will be enjoyable. Metropolis is Burning, the fourth release from Winnipeg ex-pats in as many years, sees the group continue its on-going exploration of the jazz, dub and rock-infused hip-hop. The songs on the record range from the up-tempo “I Play My Kazoo” to the soulful “I’m on Fire” to the pounding “Light So Bright,” which features guest vocals from Edmonton’s Cadence Weapon. The result is a song cycle that shows the band maturing in its interest in traditional African-American musical forms. With Metropolis is Burning, Grand Analog finally doesn’t sound like borrowers from outside forms, as the music displayed throughout the record illustrates a band that understands well what it is trying to do, which is making traditional forms fit seamlessly into its more contemporary aesthetic. This is the music Grand Analog was made to make, and the results are most delightful. Don’t let his consistency lull you into listener apathy, Grand Analog’s Metropolis is Burning is more than worth the listen. (Urbnet, www.urbnet.com) Jeff Friesen
Winnipeg music & culture since 1989