Polmo Polpo is the main project of Toronto-based musician Sandro Perri. "Like Hearts Swelling" is his first full-length album, after a series of self-released 12 inches on his own Audi Sensa label (re-issued on CD last year by Alien8 Recordings). Constellation is thrilled to welcome Sandro to the roster; as this new album demonstrates, his ear for long-burn drones & submerged rhythms overlaid with instrumental sources (slide guitar, strings, accordion) fits in perfectly with Constellation's big stars : Godspeed You Black Emperor. Building on foundations of multi-layered full-spectrum drones & loops, the music of Polmo Polpo is distinguished by slide guitar motifs that are more naive pop pastoral than spaghetti western. Polmo Polpo has crafted a subtle, enveloping, kaleidoscopic instrumental pop record, brimming & bursting like hearts swelling. Beautifully packaged as ever from Constellation, intriguing stuff.
Hangedup is the Montreal-based duo of Gen Heistek (viola) and Eric Craven (drums). The two met in 1995 while playing in Sackville and formed Hangedup in 1999. They released their eponymous debut in May 2001. Kicker in Tow followed in October 2002 and Clatter for Control in April 2005.
Hangedup play battle hymns for shut-ins, tightrope walkers, and urban bicyclists. Hangedup channel dead Roma musicians from Slavic republics, playing east European folk tunes backwards, skipping every 3rd note. Hangedup write road songs for model train enthusiasts. Hangedup compose soundtracks for slow-motion automobile accidents and use leaded gasoline every chance they get.
Hangedup are unique operators of their chosen instruments, and have a mastered a signature sound that is well ahead, and far behind, the times. Heistek's vertigo-inducing viola runs through hallucinating loopers and warranty voided amplifiers. Craven's inimitable sound fuses auto shop discards with home-wiring experiments and fifteen-year-old drum skins. Sometimes soaring, occasionally distressing, Hangedup are the sound of tomorrow, only tomorrow was this morning, just before you left the house. And you left the stove on.
Since moving to Montréal in 1987, Gen Heistek has been a member of many bands, including Pest 5000, Sackville, Set Fire To Flames and The Mile-End Ladies' String Auxiliary. She has played with godpseed you! black emperor, Sam Shalabi, Elizabeth Anka Vajagic and many others. She worked for several years as a writer and music programmer for Brave New Waves on CBC, Canada's national radio. She now runs a second-hand clothing and curiosity shop when not sawing on her strings.
Eric Craven has been a member of Shortwave, Sackville and Blackout, and has thrown down his unparalleled rhythm thing, on record and in concert, with Mitchell Akiyama, Polmo Polpo, Elizabeth Anka Vajagic, Silver Mt. Zion and Hrtsa, among many others. He moved to Montreal in 1993, having previously played in various punk bands in his native Victoria.