Heavy metal influences apparent in new release

Page 13

Dead Issue

by Breach of Trust

Rockin' Rod Records.

Saskatoon's Breach of Trust delivers a thorough thrashing of bass-laced

grunge-metal that pummels your speakers until they collapse from

exhaustion. Breach's playing and song writing abilities sem second

nature but are influenced by a variety of rock and heavy-metal mentors.

Their lyrics convey a sense of awareness of the cause and effects of

colonialism and its resulting internalization of aggression.

Breach takes a look at genocide and family violence, reconciliation and

responsibility. By mixing in a little Nirvana with Rage Against the

Machine, they have created a sound that has more in common with the

Seattle scene than anything that the wheat-fields of home have

produced. With a direction and individuality like that, this band may

go a long way if they can stand it.

Contact Rockin' Rod Records, Box 8323, Saskatoon, SK S7K 6C6

Touch the Sweet Earth

Sharon Burch, Canyon Records

Meanwhile, out in the Arizona desert, Sharon Burch takes a long easy

breath with a collection of new songs and previously released material

that has been reworked and orchestrated for her latest project, Touch

the Sweet Earth.

This sweet songbird of the south made her debut with A. Paul Ortega on

a collaboration called The Blessing Ways in 1984 and released her first

solo recording, Yazzie Girl five years later.

Much of the material for her soft and at times, cheery song-style is

inspired by traditional Navajo life and is melodiously sung in Navajo

(Dine) with the exception of "Brother Warrior" sung in English and

written by the late Kate Wolf.

Performing with her six string guitar and harmonica, Burch has

embellished her sound with a small string section that includes

harp-guitar, violin, cell and percussion. There's a confidence in her

performance and creativity along with the unique quality of her voice

that keeps the album from becoming mundane. Touch the Sweet Earth is

released on Canyon Records and distributed in Canada by First Nations

Music, Toronto (416)291-7651.

Tudjaat

By Tudjaat

Columbia/Rescue

Susan Aglukark's producer, Randall Prescott rallies an entourage of

musicians to back up the corr-over, throat-singing duo of Madeline

Allarkarialak and Phoebe Atagotaak. While being young, fresh and

exuberant, they struggle to make the inroads with their traditional

styles into the digital realm of contemporary music. This is becoming a

more travelled path in musical marriages but this one sounds almost too

contrived as the producer plies his craft.

Tudjaat is a mixture of mostly cross-over sounds of imitation hip-hop,

trip-hop and dance-hall grooves decorated with Inukitut artists. The

dancy stuff like "Hear Me" or "Uhmma (Up Up)/ Dance Mix" bears more

likeness to theme music from a CBC television series than any attempt at

being the Arctic's answer to Yothu Yindi. They'll have to get out more

and listen to what people are dancing to if they want to walk alongside

the likes of 9 Lazy or London Underground".

I've never really liked songs that have creamy caramel fillings and I

don't care much for this one, but if you go for that sort of thing

"Kajusita (My Ship Comes In)" is one that will melt all over your

floor. The women display their throat-song talents in a medley on the

last number of a six-track disc. This is one album that has the less

adventurous in mind.

Tudjaat is bing distributed by Sony Music, 1121 Leslie St., North York,

Ont M3C 2J9 (416)391-1960

Please send submissions to Brian Wright-McLeod, "Heart of the Earth",

CKLN 88.1 m 380 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 1W7