Danny Michel 
Who: Danny Michel
What: Superb singer/songwriter/musician
Where: Ottawa, ON
To Contact: ; (Bookings) Jack Ross, The Agency Group (416) 368-5599

Whether you're pro- or anti-Napster, there's no denying the promotional potential of providing free MP3s. After downloading a couple from Danny Michel's Web site, I was so impressed, I bought his latest CD Fibsville! A gifted singer/songwriter, an eminently engaging performer and a versatile guitarist, in addition to his own solo career, Michel is also a full-time member of Ottawa power-pop outfit Starling. With Starling pals Ian LeFeuvre and Peter Von Althen lending a hand, Michel recorded his third solo CD Fibsville, playing the bulk of the instruments himself, as well as recording, producing, engineering and mastering the disc. Michel is able to cut to the quick of an emotion, to express a universal feeling in a fresh way, with lyrics that are endearing and literate, with the odd wry twist thrown in to keep you on your toes. The lead-off track, "Coalmine", evokes the wood-smoke memory ambience of a Fall day from childhood, and the hard-luck "Hartley" explores that sinking feeling using the Titanic's bandleader as simile, while the xylophone-dappled "Elgin Avenue" welcomes a little rain to complement the water-colour tableau of day-in-the-life mini-miseries Michel paints. "I just try to make it real," says Michel. "I try to write stuff for me, that makes me happy, and for no other reason. As for recording, I try to make it sound unique." With the inclusion of two intimate live tracks at the end of the record, Fibsville is one of the best listening experiences I've had in a while -- and that's no lie.

Plasticine 
Who: Plasticine
What: Melodic pop-tastic rock
Where: Kitchener-Waterloo, ON
Website: www.plasticine.net
To Contact: 98 Queen St. S., Unit #1, Hamilton, ON, L8P 3R8 (519) 725-0798 or (905) 525-5876, or

To be a successful band sometimes means that you have to be flexible and malleable, without necessarily letting yourself be affected by prevailing conditions. Maybe that explains why Plasticine has been such a successful indie band. Led by singer/songwriter/guitarists and long-time friends Rob Szabo (ex of The Groove Daddys) and Steve Strongman (The Tal Bachman Band), the group also includes Adam Buschlen (The Shannon Lyon Pop Explosion) on bass/vocals and Roger Travassos (Jacksoul) on drums. Known for a period of time as Marigold, the foursome began playing around Southern Ontario and eventually entered Cedartree Studios in their hometown of Kitchener, to commit their songs to tape. Their self-titled debut CD was released in the fall of '99 to rave reviews, hovering just shy of the Top 20 at college radio. Boasting shimmering vocals and pop-perfect harmonies, Plasticine songs alternate between the melodicism of Something To Someone and Tragedy, while adding plenty of guitar bite on Why'd You Cut Yer Hair? and the single No One, which has enjoyed favourable rotation on MuchMusic. "We're shooting for some kind of emotional result, both from our live show and from the recording," says Szabo. "Just something that moves us in some way." The disc's hidden track even has the band pulling out some very tasty jazz-like chops. They hope to record a follow-up for an early 2001 release. If the material maintains the qualities of their debut, Plasticine should be in good shape to make something of themselves.

Oliver Schroer 
Who: Oliver Schroer
What: Fiddler/Composer
Where: Toronto, Ontario
To Contact: Big Dog Music, 589 Markham Street, Toronto, M6G 2L7 (416) 516-4806

I was skeptical that I'd be able to sit through a whole CD of solo fiddle pieces -- much less a double CD! But this release from Oliver Schroer -- his fifth album -- becomes more magical with each listen. O2 presents 23 solo violin pieces improvised and recorded by the former subway busker on the 5-string violin. Schroer has been prominent on the Canadian acoustic music scene for many years, both as the leader of his own world-beat band, Stewed Tomatoes, and as a fiddle-for-hire for artists such as James Keelaghan, Great Big Sea, Loreena McKennitt, George Fox, Marc Jordan, Stephen Fearing, Valdy and Teresa Doyle. Billing the CD as "Whimsies, Melismas, Fractal Reels, Prayers," Schroer weaves a magical tapestry of melody, exploring and reflecting many streams of music -- Jazz, Celtic, Scandinavian, Balkan, Asian -- simply(!) plucking the music from the air. "I didn't really write these pieces at all." Schroer explains in his liner notes. "Rather, they announced themselves to me, and I was quick enough to catch them as they flickered by." For "Life On The River", the bow staccato steps all over the strings in a Highland dance, with tones dancing on sonic seams, momentarily mutating into something almost flute-like, then back again. "Light Passes Through" enters with the elegance of an Elizabethan chamber piece, only to turn and reveal the lilt of a Celtic lament, and then the next thing you know you're brooding 'round a gypsy campfire. Sometimes stirring, sometimes whimsical, O2 maps our musical DNA in a distinctively rich musical experience. Breathe it in.

Credit: Jim Kelly is a Toronto-based freelance writer.

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