Hot Springs - "Volcano" - Album Review

Hot Springs - Volcano
Aquarius Records

Hitting like a geyser of sulphuric fury, the debut release from Montreal’s Hot Springs explodes onto the scene with all the heat and volatility their name implies. From the ballsy opener “Headrush,” a veritable archive of pent-up aggression, to the relentless drilling of the testosterone-fuelled “Pink Money,” this gutsy quartet displays their pop-rock fangs with relish. Quavering somewhere between Grace Slick and PJ Harvey, songstress Giselle Webber is reportedly the hottest thing going in Canadian music today.

Hypnotizing audiences with her ferocious sexuality and wild whirling-dervish dance moves, Webber commands attention with every deliberate note. Drummer Anne Gauthier drives the point home with her solid yet creative beats, dirtying up the psychedelic harmonies with a heavier Led Zeppelin-inspired sound. Despite getting off to a good start, Volcano inevitably cools off as it winds its way through nine remarkably modern-sounding tracks. 

As a budding entity that has become defined by its own kinetic energies, Hot Springs may indeed prove to be a dish best served live.

by Christine Leonard

Published October 11, 2007

Marcel Khalife : Romieh prison blues

Imprisonment no deterrent for renowned oud player Marcel Khalife

Despite being banned from Tunisia and put on trial in Lebanon, Marcel Khalife continues to preach peace through his songs

by Christine Leonard 

Marcel Khalife and the Al Mayadine Ensemble perform at MacEwan Ballroom October 4, 2007

It’s been 20 years since renowned Arabic musician Marcel Khalife last paid a visit to Calgary. In that time, the internationally renowned oud player has traversed the globe recording music, performing at venues such as the Kennedy Center and Berkeley College and attempting to build bridges between people and their respective ideologies.

A native to Lebanon, Khalife now makes his home in Paris, where he composes original, traditionally influenced music to complement soul-stirring verses penned by Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. His latest release, Taqasim, embodies the essence of an artist who has faced censorship on every front yet has remained steadfast in his efforts to break down the barriers that reside within. Summing up 30 years of dedication and tribute to Darwish — his friend, lyricist and national poet of the Palestinian people — Taqasim is a thoughtful and passionate collection of songs that takes its name from the Arabic word for improvisations.

“There is always a unifying message in my music and in the poetry of Darwish,” Khalife explains. “It is a message of peace and harmony, a message of love and hope and a message of justice, and also resistance to persecution wherever it emanates from. It is my attempt to express the feelings and emotions that Mahmoud Darwish's poetry has instilled in me in music, without the lyrics.”

Once again touring with the Al Mayadine Ensemble, a fluctuating collection of accomplished players who furnish each piece with their manifold vocal and instrumental talents, Khalife is eager to present his unique blend of modern and traditional compositions to the delight of audiences worldwide. Performing as a trio, quartet or larger group, the ever-evolving Al Maydine Ensemble takes whatever form necessary to meet the requirements of the work in question.

“My music is grounded in my Arab culture and music, yet open to influences from music of cultures in other parts of the world,” he says, “I draw my inspiration from the poetry that I read, which touches me deeply, and from everyday episodes of life and people.”

Khalife has been persecuted by governments (he was banished from Tunisia for expressing his support for political prisoners and activists in that country), corporations and individuals who take offense at his views. He has even been taken to court three times, facing a three-year prison term in Lebanon for “insulting religious values” by singing a poem adapted from a story from the Qur’an. Despite ongoing accusations that he is guilty of blasphemy under Islamic law and the very real threat of detainment, Khalife’s projects continue with the same indomitable spirit.

“There have been several attempts to stifle my work and ban it,” Khalife says. “There were attempts to persecute me by falsely accusing me of blasphemy and insulting religious beliefs. On this tour, my performance in one of the cities in the U.S. was canceled by the venue that the presenter had secured for the concert by claiming that my event is unbalanced and divisive, and might be alienating to a certain community in the city.”

Pitchforkmedia and MuzzleWatch.com reported that the San Diego Salvation Army recently refused to rent space for Khalife’s performance, because doing so would be unfair unless an Israeli was allowed to play the same stage.

“It makes me more persistent in the work I do,” Khalife says. “Cultural and artistic production is our last line of defense in the face of the gradual political collapse that the world is currently experiencing.”