Midweek Mix: Brutus Begins - Astari Nite

Brutus Begins - Never Fade.

Background promo - Brutus Begins is a solo project by Ricardo Temporao, a Portuguese-Canadian musician writer, and director currently based in Toronto (hailing from Kitchener, ON). Elements of folk are resampled and synthesized, blurring the lines between what is real and reconstructed and challenging notions of what is natural.   

Ricardo has fronted bands for over decade from the New Low, General Staff and Skinny Bitches (which was featured on Alan Cross's blog). In 2005, he released an album under the name “Rick Temporao & the New Low” which received radio airplay across Canada and earned critical acclaim (see below). He has also composed music for films and television (i.e. short films "Dead Wake", "The Visitor", BRAVO television’s "Bravo Playlist" theme song and currently composing for short film "Scales").

Ricardo has directed and edited music videos for award-winning musicians Lily Frost, Cedar Park, and Fast Romantics.  

Recently he has begun his latest and most personal project, Brutus Begins. With influences from Leonard Cohen to Tame Impala and Shuggie Otis to T-Rex, Brutus Begins lives on the edge of a sonic "uncanny valley". The buttons, knobs and wires twist and bleed into something almost human.  Where the copper pierces the flesh is where Brutus Begins. He will be appearing at Canadian Music Week 2016.  His first album "Uncanny Valley" will be released this year.

'Uncanny Valley' comprises of seven quite varied songs. 'Never Fade' starts the whole collection off, giving you a pretty good idea of what's in store. The overall impression I come away with is that, this is a consistently good collection of songs. It is also an example of how electronic music, mixed with natural sounds and instruments really can move in so many different styles and directions.

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Astari Nite - Always Like Yesterday.

Background promo - Post Punk, New Wave band Astari Nite unveiled the album cover for their second album titled Until the End of the Moon, due out May 13th via German Label Dance Macabre Records.

"I find Until the End of the Moon to be quite compelling. The maturity of the album resonates throughout and I personally feel that the listener will have a strong image of what in fact is being spoken upon," says lead singer Mychael Ghost.

Formed in 2008, the group consists of Mychael Ghost (lead vocals), Illia Tulloch (Drums), M. Sallons (Bass), Michael Setton (Guitar), and Howard Melnick (Guitar). Signed to (Danse Macabre Records). Astari Nite has headlined numerous shows, as well as opened up for many national acts such as Peter Murphy, The Psychedelic Furs, ColdCave, Stars, Assemblage 23, Seabound, Modern English, Andy Rourke of The Smiths, Apoptygma Berzerk and De/Vision among many others.

Since forming they have put out four releases; their self-titled Astari Nite (2010), Requiem Mass (2011) Stereo Waltz (2014) featuring the singles Pyramids and I.O. 1987, and Anonymous (2015) featuring the single The Boy Who Tried. 2015 Highlights - Headlined Wave Gotik Treffen (Leipzig Germany) Performed with The Psychedelic Furs, released the "Anonymous" EP, released a music video for the single "The Boy Who Tried".

They have performed with The Psychedelic Furs and as far as the featured song goes, there is a similarity. However I thinks that's perhaps down to the distinct (and very good) vocals of Mychael Ghost. Whatever the case 'Always Like Yesterday' is one fine song, that shows that there is still plenty of opportunities to produce high quality post punk or new wave music.


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