Tag: Grande Prairie
Top Songs of 2012: 75-51
2012 has been the strongest year in memory for Canadian electronic pop. Established artists started new electronic projects, amazing new talents appeared seemingly out of nowhere, and one of our shining stars became a superstar recognized the world over. Canada is clearly at the epicenter of the zeitgeist – it’s a testament to the unbelievable talent in this country that we have 100 songs to present to you as the best of the year, and STILL had to exclude so many excellent tracks.
Montreal and Toronto may still have the most representatives of any Canadian city, but dark electro is thriving everywhere, from Halifax to Calgary, Ottawa to Vancouver, and exciting new hotbeds appearing in London, Ontario, and Grande Prairie, Alberta. We’re not too exclusively nationalist here at Silent Shout, so border states (minus NYC) appear too, with artists from Minneapolis, Seattle, and Brattleboro, Vermont making our list.
A huge thank you to all our readers, the folks who attend our events, and the bands that make brilliant music across this land for making 2012 an unforgettable year for us. Here’s to an even bigger 2013 for Canadian electronic music.
Top 100 Songs: 100-76 /// 75-51 /// 50-26 /// 25-1
75. Electric Youth – The Best Thing
74. Elrichman – The Shah and I
73. Grapes Godly – No Storm
72. Le Roi Crocodile – Battles
70. Matthew A. Wilkinson – Skyscrapers in Paris
69. Purity Ring – Bellispeak II feat Danny Brown
67. Blanche Blanche Blanche – Fireworks
66. Renny Wilson – Could’ve it Been Me?
65. Moon King – Only Child
64. The Luyas – Fifty Fifty
63. Shadow Folk – Heaven’s Gate
62. Sally Dige – Doppleganger
61. Chairs – Indestructible Machine
60. New Zebra Kid – Go the Extra Mile
59. How Sad (formerly Goose Hut)- Stockholm Syndrome
57. Desire – Tears From Heaven
56. Rob Crooks – Hey! Hey!
55. Blanche Blanche Blanche – She’s Adopted
53. Grimes – Circumambient
52. Essaie Pas – 514 376-9230
51. Maylee Todd – Baby’s Got It
Top 100 Songs: 100-76 /// 75-51 /// 50-26 /// 25-1
Previously: Top 20 Albums /// Top 20 Videos /// Top 15 Remixes /// Top 10 EPs
Top 100 Songs of 2012: 100-76
2012 has been the strongest year in memory for Canadian electronic pop. Established artists started new electronic projects, amazing new talents appeared seemingly out of nowhere, and one of our shining stars became a superstar recognized the world over. Canada is clearly at the epicenter of the zeitgeist – it’s a testament to the unbelievable talent in this country that we have 100 songs to present to you as the best of the year, and STILL had to exclude so many excellent tracks.
Montreal and Toronto may still have the most representatives of any Canadian city, but dark electro is thriving everywhere, from Halifax to Calgary, Ottawa to Vancouver, and exciting new hotbeds appearing in London, Ontario, and Grande Prairie, Alberta. We’re not too exclusively nationalist here at Silent Shout, so border states (minus NYC) appear too, with artists from Minneapolis, Seattle, and Brattleboro, Vermont making our list.
A huge thank you to all our readers, the folks who attend our events, and the bands that make brilliant music across this land for making 2012 an unforgettable year for us. Here’s to an even bigger 2013 for Canadian electronic music.
Top 100 Songs: 100-76 /// 75-51 /// 50-26 /// 25-1
99. Gold & Youth – Time to Kill
98. d’Eon – Century By Century
97. Crystal Castles – Wrath of God
96. Suuns – Edie’s Dream
95. Marie Davidson – Ma vie sans toi
94. Yves Son Ace – Wallet Song
93. Gal Gracen – ∞
92. Ev Ree Wuhn – Control
91. Man Made Hill – Physical (Olivia Newton John cover)
90. Drug Train – Idioms
89. The Natural Shocks – Change
88. Solar Year – Night and Day
87. Zooey – You
86. Gold Zebra – Dark Musique
85. Warm Myth – Gonna Gun
84. Wand – There Is A Place
83. Parallels – Moonlight Desires (Gowan cover)
82. Zouk Fuck – Blaque Sabbath
81. Hiawatha – Dogs of War
80. Nyteowl – EZ Boy
79. Tops – Easy Friends
78. Most People – You Said
76. Breeze – Paradise (In A While)
Top 100 Songs: 100-76 /// 75-51 /// 50-26 /// 25-1
Previously: Top 20 Albums /// Top 20 Videos /// Top 15 Remixes /// Top 10 EPs
MP3: Derek Janzen – Burning Home

Here’s a lovely little instrumental from Grande Prairie’s Derek Janzen aka Wand, who it seems have moved to warmer climes in Victoria. If you haven’t done so already, check out the great album he released a few months back.
Debut: Matthew A. Wilkinson – Skyscrapers in Paris

Matthew A. Wilkinson – Skyscrapers in Paris
Part of a budding scene in far-north Grande Prairie, Alberta, Matthew A. Wilkinson makes great doomed electronic post-punk to confuse the soul. Check out his new record, Post Namers, on his Bandcamp.
New Release: Wand – Mt. St. Helens

Wand – Ceremony
Wand – Empty Palaces
Living in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Derek Janzen aka Wand is probably the northernmost artist we’ve written about. We’ve been eagerly anticipating his first album, Mt. St. Helens, and Wand did not disappoint. It’s an epic, sprawling work, with three tracks passing the 8 minute mark. It’s a very impressive debut that reminds of a more electronic Arcade Fire. Stream it and buy it on his Bandcamp.
Debut: Wand – There Is A Place

Great music being made in Alberta’s far north. Say hello to Grande Prairie native Derek Janzen aka Wand, who’s been doing his bedroom recordings since 2008 but are just beginning to reach our ears now. He just put out this new single and it’s very much worth your attention, reminiscent of Miracle Fortress with just the tiniest bit of Destroyer (maybe it’s the sax that reminds). Have a listen to some of the other tracks on the forthcoming Mt. St. Helens on his Bandcamp here.


