Danielle Hébert 
Who: Danielle Hébert
What: Ethereal Pop
Where: St. Mathias, PQ
To Contact: Hystar Entertainment, (604) 936-7803, .

Québec native, Danielle Hébert's latest release The Alien Suite is an exceptional recording. It is her second full-length and first all English release. Although the CD was actually recorded in 2000, it has recently been re-released.
The performances, compositions, arrangements and production on The Alien Suite are all excellent. Hébert cites Beethoven, Miles Davis and Hendrix as early influences, and her compositions reflect this broad scope of styles. The CD's title alludes to the ethereal collection music within as each song definitely evokes its own atmosphere.
What immediately draws one's attention when listening to The Alien Suite is Hébert's hauntingly beautiful voice, both as a lead vocal and in rich harmony tracks. As exceptional as her voice is though, it's hard not to also appreciate Hébert's guitar playing. Given its presence in the recording, it is obvious that the guitar, whether an acoustic or an electric cutaway, is Hébert's songwriting tool, but it is also much more. Basic strumming, hard funk riffing, light finger picking, and lyrical lead playing are all in Hébert's repertoire and she craftily exploits them all to create her complex musical moods.
Though they definitely play a supporting role, the musicians Hébert selected for The Alien Suite are as equally adept at creating atmospheres as she. From song to song, or even within a song's form the moods can suddenly change and the musicians adapt beautifully. They are equally capable of minimalist hinting, as they are all-out driving.
Hébert has experienced an artistic epiphany of late and the band she used to support her on this recording and on tour is no longer together. She has taken a musical pause to devote more time to her other artistic passions: sculpture and graphic design. Luckily, music hasn't taken a permanent back seat in her life and she is currently working on a new project, in French this time. This is good news as it would be a travesty to for her to stop something for which she has such obvious talent.

Enter the Haggis 
Who: Enter the Haggis
What: Alternative Celtic
Where: Toronto, ON
To Contact: Trevor Lewington, (416) 532-1722, www.enterthehaggis.com.

If you're looking for something that will help sooth you mid-work week, stay clear of Enter The Haggis. Subtlety is definitely not a word found in this band's vocabulary - at least not in complimentary usage. Upon seeing their name and a few song titles (Scotland the Brave/Hava Nagila, Ride My Monster) I knew this band was all about having fun. Enter The Haggis' recorded music is pure energy and their most recent release Enter The Haggis Live is proof that their live show is equally charged.
The Toronto-based five-piece's roots are deeply set in the Scottish/Celtic musical tradition but the band's music also has a heavy rock influence. Haggis' award-winning fiddler Brian Buchanan and bagpiper/penny whistler Craig Downie are responsible for bringing Canadian East Coast and Scottish musical traditions to the band first-hand. The rhythm section, guitarist Trevor Lewington, bassist Mark Abraham and drummer James "Seamus" Campbell are all schooled musicians and graduates from various Toronto music faculties. The musical result is a front-line pair of Celtic virtuosos on top of a rhythm section as tight as a vice.
What is particularly astounding about Enter The Haggis Live is the musical performance. This is a live recording by a band who, given the photos on the CD showing both sweat and kilts flying, have an exceptionally animated live show. On top of this, Celtic music is known to have a ton of energy - at least until the whisky takes its physical and emotional toll - and some pretty blistering tempos. Combine the two and you'd naturally expect some performance mistakes, like wandering tempos, and intonation problems. Not so on Enter The Haggis Live. Not only does strong musicianship not suffer from on-stage energy, but the reverse doesn't happen either.
Enter the Haggis play a lot of festivals throughout Canada, so if you're looking for a raucous night of all out fun - with or without whisky - definitely go check these guys out.

Watson 
Who: Watson
What: UK Rock
Where: Toronto, ON
To Contact: www.watsonrock.com

Although Watson is a fairly new incarnation, its members have played an active part in the Toronto music scene for several years in a variety of different bands. Watson itself was formed when guitarist Kevin Watson and drummer Paul Caruana, both originally from the UK, renamed and reshuffled their Toronto band The Lost Messiahs. Part of the reshuffling included adding singer Kieron Daly, another UK import, and bassist/engineer/producer J. Elliot.
Given their years and their roots, it's not surprising to discover that Watson's sound has a definite late '80s flavor to it. After all, their acknowledged influences do include the likes of The Police, Jeff Beck, and Genesis. This doesn't, however, mean that these guys are out of date and stuck in the past. While you can hear where their roots lie, there sound definitely has a more contemporary, aggressive tone to it. I couldn't help thinking of a cross between Echo and the Bunnymen - Kieron's vocals especially - and treble charger.
Watson sent CM their latest three-cut promo CD containing the songs "Smile", "She's So Special" and "Givin' It". The music on the CD couldn't be described as anything but rock. But while they're not going to break any barriers of genre or creativity, what Watson does play, they play very well. All three songs on the CD are very well conceived, performed and produced. Each one of them sounds like single material.
The fact that these guys have been playing for a while is a definite asset. Years spent in a variety of different rock bands have paid off, at least performance-wise. I'm sure they're still waiting for the financial kick backs. Every one of the musicians has ability on their respective instruments and this style of music.
There is a whole lot of sixteenth note riffing on guitar and bass with driving drumming underneath, so be warned, this is definite air guitar music. If you don't want anyone but your mirror to see you, make sure the door is closed when you put Watson in your CD player.

Credit: Julian Mainprize is a Toronto-based freelance writer.

| Contents | Showcase | Music On-Line | Studio Guide | Canadian Artists |