The Supers 
Who: Maury Lafoy (bass, vocals), Graham Powell (guitar, vocals), Jeff Macpherson (drums) and Tim Bovaconti (guitar, vocals).
What: The Four Lads fall into a time warp and go electric.
Where: Toronto
Why: Because "Supers" is short for "Superintendents," not like all those other trendy "Super-Something" bands.
To Contact: Ken Ashdown, Komrad Management, (416) 921-1683, .

What do you get when you blend the ashes of Fall Down Go Boom (Lafoy, Powell, Macpherson) and Lost Dakotas (Bovaconti)? The Supers, a throwback-to-the-'60s rock 'n roll band that's groovier than Austin Powers could ever even imagine. What's so great is, this band isn't trying to be groovy. They just are. Lafoy is one of Canada's most sought-after studio bass players, and on this album, it's easy to see - or rather, hear - why. In Powell and Bovaconti, The Supers have a tandem of two acclaimed guitarists who complement each other's lines fluidly. The songs are catchy and well-crafted (but not self-consciously so), and if there were any justice in the world, this would be the summer album of 1999. The band recorded drum and bass tracks, as well as most of the guitar tracks, at the relatively comfortable Rogue Folk Studios in Toronto. Once finished, the hi-tech quartet took the tape home, switched formats to ADAT and DA-88, then proceeded to record keyboard, overdubs and vocals on Powell's Mac G3, using Metro for sequencing and Deck for recording. A Korg digital mixer tied into the ADAT made the process easier for the group.

Jennifer Gibson 
Who: Jennifer Gibson and Lucy the Dog (Lucy doesn't play anything, just provides lots of support).
What: alt.no.depression.
Where: Edmonton
Why: cool chick, raw emotions, powerful voice, eloquent writing = Amanda Marshall, watch out.
To Contact: Marlene Daoust, Girly Girl Records, Box 75129 Ritchie PO, Edmonton, AB T6E 6K1 (403) 465-3175.

As one element in the now-defunct all-women's band Petticoat Junction, Jennifer Gibson got her share of stage time and exposure, but she felt that she was avoiding the risk of doing her own work. In 1992, she took the plunge and released a debut CD that was widely acclaimed. Burned out after the ensuing "publicity grind," Gibson took a break and only recently re-emerged with a long-awaited second CD, Be the Woman. It's worth the wait. What's special about this album isn't (necessarily) the musicianship or the recording process. The song - and the voice - is the thing. Gibson has a rare talent for eloquent but concise storytelling that pulls in listeners of all genders. Backed up by a solid core of musicians, including Steve Pineo (guitars, mandolin, banjo), John C. Towill (bass), Matthew Atkins (drums) and Jamie Kidd (accordion, Hammond organ), Gibson whirled through recording the 12 tracks on Woman in 10 days at Edmonton's Beta Sound Recorders, then mixed at Metalworks in Toronto.

Spackle 
Who: Tean (vocals, guitar, producer), Vital (bass) and Eric (drums).
What: "luv-funkified pop music"
Where: Montreal
Why: Because they use the word "luv" in every song, which has got to be some kind of record (no pun intended).
To Contact: Anne-Marie Perrotta, Dandan Productions, (514) 328-7527, FAX (514) 328-7542.

When your first EP is recorded at Paisley Park Studios, owned by The Artist Formerly (and Sometimes Currently) Known as Prince, making a follow-up can be something of a challenge. Spackle has done justice to their past and is paving the road for a long future. The first full-length CD (The LUV Album) from this Montreal first-names-only trio features a wide-ranging mix of punk, jazz, funk - 'luv-funk,' to be specific - with a bit of heavy metal-ish stuff thrown in. And that doesn't include the gospel tinge that hangs around the outside of some songs. Like TAFaSCKaP, if sex were a musical genre, they'd specialize in that. Formerly known as Thrill of it All, the three mowhawk'd band members are music industry veterans who delight in playing 'classic' music loudly ... and with a twist or two of wry. "LUV" was recorded at their own slightly-less-well-known Moonbabe Satellite Studio in Montreal, mixed in Minneapolis at Seedy Underbelly and mastered at Sony in New York by Mark Wilder. Not content with having a truly eclectic sound and international recording process, the band turned to Paul Peterson, who re-mixed the singles for radio.

Credit: Sarah Chauncey is a Toronto-based freelance writer.

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