Polaris Music Prize Shortlist - 2014

I really should hear what Jessy Lanza and Tanya Tagaq sound like before voting, but this year I'm definitely hoping that we have our first second-time winner (hint: I don't mean Arcade Fire).

i'll go with YTST here though i like owen's record a bunch too

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Y//ST album is fucking amazing, as is the Pallett. Uh idk, will just wait for the judges to decide. This is where O himself cones in and tells us to check out the rest of the shortlist, right :D

Not as much as prev years. Good diverse list though, yay Canada. Rooting for Tanya, I've seen her three times and each time brought both herself and audience to tears

i'll go with YTST here though i like owen's record a bunch too

― ciderpress, Thursday, July 24, 2014 7:56 PM (1 month ago)

YT//ST my obvious winners, but yeah, the OP album is great as well.

Just reading about Tanya Tagaq now, she sounds super interesting but I have no idea how much I'll actually like the result. Will give her a listen.

I really like Auk/Blood but haven't kept up with her since then. I listened to Animism once in the background this morning. It sounded good but I definitely need to listen some more.

Somehow, I just haven't listened to this Yamantaka/Sonic Titan album as much as the last one. Not sure why.

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Wow, if Animism is nearly as good as that performance, I need to get it. Seriously stunning.

Tagaq's Polaris performance: WOW.
http://youtu.be/zseAB5pm5vQ - start around 3:20:00.

You have to see her live in the flesh, she's the best

Wow, that performance was out of this world! I only knew her from her work with Björk on Medúlla - I remember the two of them (and Rahzel!) performing a batshit version of "Who Is It" on some French TV show. Definitely will investigate Animism!

Is the presenter drunk?

Yeah, that was great.

Scik Mouthy: He was interviewed right afterwards and the interviewer referred to him as the 'highest man in the room' iirc.

Tagaq though, fucking hell. omg

That's extraordinary. Mind-bending.

Ordered the album. Hadn't heard of it before, though I've presumably heard her on Medulla.

She's featured a few tracks on Medúlla but the one that showcases her the most must be "Ancestors" - a pretty feral wordless duet between her and Björk over simple piano chords. It has always been one of the highlights of that album for me, I can't believe I haven't explored Tagaq further until now. Ordering Animism as we speak.

It's so awesome that an artist like Tagaq won the prize. I hope it brings her exposure.

that was quite a performance! i'll give her that.

Wow, that performance! The presenter kinda summed it up afterwards: "I mean HOLY SHIT! Was that something else or what? That was fucking... My God! Amazing! That was amazing!"

goddamn it this is metal as fuck

yeah I'm going to listen to this record, that was straight-up ridiculous

not 'ridiculous' as in 'worthy of ridicule', 'ridiculous' as in 'that something with one vocalist, a small choir, a violin and a drumkit could be this completely transportative and powerful seems ridiculous but it was'

something like this won canada's national music prize. goddamnit i might move there. *reads mercury music nominees list, guffaws*

The album is on spotify, the first track is a bit... but then it picks up. Half way through at the moment. Btw, that list of names in the background, apparantly that is names of murdered/vanished inuit women.

Oh forgot to mention, and don't know if it was evident, but Tagaq's perf was improvised. Element Choir too (that's what they're about) find her and see her

Album is amazing. First track is a total fucking bait-and-switch move.

Reflektor feels like so long ago...

Played Animism at record club last night.

http://exeterrecordclub.com/2014/10/24/tanya-tagaq-animism-round-15-nicks-choice/