idée fixe \ ee-day-FEEKS \ noun;
An idea or desire that dominates the mind especially for a prolonged period; a fixed idea.
04.08.2012
We are genuinely ecstatic to announce the addition of Alex Lukashevsky to the Idée Fixe roster as well as news of the imminent release of his latest work "Too Late Blues".
Obstensibly a trio record, it features the incredible talents of two of Toronto's finest singers, Daniela Gesundheit (Snowblink, Bruce Peninsula) and Felicity Williams (Bahamas, Hobson's Choice) whom expertly weave their voices in and around Alex's distinctive vocals and trademark adroit arrangements. Additional instrumentation is provided by a cast of Toronto's finest players, Michael Davidson (marimba, vibraphone), Tania Gill (melodica), Thom Gill (hammond, synth) and Leonie Wall (flute) who deftly take on the songs and create a set of truly unique accompaniments.
Alex, Daniela and Felicity have been performing together since 2009 and have toured extensively in Canada and the US. This month sees the trio travel to Japan to play a string of dates. Check out the dates below and we promise an official release date for Too Late Blues will be announced very shortly.
| 04/29 | Sendai | Arabaki Festival |
| 04/30 | Sendai | Retro Back Page |
| 05/01 | Tokyo | Nanahari |
| 05/02 | Kyoto | Urbanguild |
| 05/03 | Nagoya | K*d Japan |
| 05/04 | Tokyo | Strobe Cafe |
| 05/04 | Tokyo | Ongakunojikan |
Montreal Pocket Party #1 | Alex Lukashevsky | Too Late Blues from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.
04.04.2012
For anyone who didn't catch what has been hailed as the performance of the night, check out this clip of Feist's "The Bad in Each Other" featuring Bry Webb. An incredible version with expanded band, replete with pyro for the Juno Award crowd.
03.29.2012
Just a reminder to tune into the 2012 Juno Award broadcast on Sunday April 1st. Bry Webb will be sharing the stage with Feist as they perform The Bad in Each Other from Feist's 2011 album Metals. Anyone who caught their cross-Canada tour can attest to the amazing chemistry they share on stage and it's sure to be a highlight of the broadcast.
01.27.2012
Here's another great video from The Luyas! This time out, 'Moodslayer' gets the treatment. Created by Schtuff, an art collective featuring the Luyas' Jessie Stein, frequent video collaborator
01.13.2012
As our first post of 2012 we are thrilled to announce that Bry Webb along with the Providers (Mike Brooks, Rich Burnett and Tyler Belluz) will be playing some Southern Ontario dates in February in support of Provider.
Also, in wonderfully synchronous fashion we are pleased to present two performances of Bry Webb beautifully captured by the one and only Mitch Fillion of Southern Souls fame. Travelling to Guelph (check the watertower) Mitch shot what could only be described as a moving potrait of domestic life.
Check the dates and watch the clips.
| 02/03 | St. Catherines | Mansion House | w/Simone from $100 |
| 02/04 | Toronto | Music Gallery | 2 shows w/Doug Tielli |
| 02/10 | Peterborough | Gordon Best Theatre | w/Jonas Bonetta and Gavin Gardiner |
| 02/11 | Kingston | Grad Club | w/Jonas Bonetta and Gavin Gardiner |
BRY WEBB - Sad Man's Song (Burl Ives / Traditional) from Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca) on Vimeo.
BRY WEBB - Viva from Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca) on Vimeo.
12.29.2011
A quick post to thank everyone for all the wonderful support you have given us in 2011. We feel blessed to have released the records we did this past year and are very excited to annouce over the upcoming weeks some of our plans for 2012.
A special thanks to all the fans worldwide who have written such great things in print and online. You've been a great inspiration!
On the subject of inspiration we close out 2011 with a suitably seasonable clip. Enjoy!
11.07.2011
On November 15th Idée Fixe will release Bry Webb's debut solo album Provider. The album will be available at both retail and iTunes as well as Idée Fixe where we are offering a pre-order of the album starting on November 8th at our store.
Both Vinyl and CD formats will also be available at the following shows where Bry is providing support for Feist on her upcoming Canadian tour.
| 11/20 | Edmonton, AB | Jubilee Auditorium |
| 11/21 | Calgary, AB | Jack Singer Concert Hall |
| 12/01 | Toronto, ON | Massey Hall |
| 12/03 | Montreal, QC | Metropolis |
| 12/05 | Ottawa, ON | National Arts Centre |
| 12/06 | Quebec, QC | Grand Theatre de Quebec |
11.01.2011
We're happy to report that the Idée Fixe office has been overwhelmed with "DELORO LOVE" since the release of their self-titled debut lp in September. Some of Canada's best and brightest have written very nice things about the record.Check the links below.
09.22.2011
Deloro have a new video for their song No Fun. The film is a collaboration between Deloro's Tony Romano and filmmaker Michael Leblanc. The city never felt so cold as the band is rounded up in a dark car to an unknown destination. Where could it be? Perhaps the next video will tell. Best viewed in Fullscreen!
09.12.2011
We are excited to announce that we will be releasing the debut solo album from former Constantines frontman Bry Webb entitled Provider on November 15, 2011.
Working with Jeff McMurrich (Jennifer Castle, Owen Pallett, Sandro Perri), Bry along with lap steel player Rich Burnett, pedal steel player Mike Brooks, and upright bassist Tyler Belluz, recorded the album entirely live off the floor. The results are organic, eerie and minimal and provide the perfect backdrop for Bry's literate and detailed narratives. Sung in Webb's distinctive voice Provider's songs feel at once both personal and universal, ranging from moving tributes to honest confessions highlighting an intimacy only hinted at in the past.
This fall Bry will join Feist on her highly anticipated Canadian tour, opening for her in some of Canada's finest venues including Massey Hall in Toronto. In addition, Bry will perform with Feist at the Glenn Gould Studio on October 8 in an exclusive presentation of her new album Metals, which Bry makes a guest vocal appearance on.
09.06.2011
Today the new Deloro album is officially available! We wanted to finally show off the pics of the completed jackets and inserts so everyone can see The Gold Edition!
08.28.2011
We are now accepting preorders of the Deloro album at our online store. For those who are curious as to what the gold edition looks like we will be taking pictures and posting them here in the next few days. Things are moving along!
08.24.2011
We are thrilled to announce that in less than two weeks on Semptember 6th we will be releasing the self titled debut album of Toronto supergroup Deloro. Exclaim has the scoop and make sure to visit our artist and releases sections for more details. Pre-orders will be available within the next few days along with extensive detail on the elaborate packaging of "THE GOLD EDITION".
Head over to Exclaim for a taste of the lead single "Travelling Man".
07.11.2011
The Luyas have just arrived home in Montreal after crossing Canada and heading down the west coast of America on a sold out tour with Blonde Redhead and now, in true Luyas fashion, have just announced a late summer tour with past european tourmates/pals The Dodos. Canadian dates include Quebec City, Ottawa and Hamilton. See all the dates below.
| 07/31 | Montreal, QC | Osheaga Music Festival |
| 08/26 | Big Sur, CA | Henry Miller Library |
| 08/27 | Los Angeles, CA | Heritage Court @ The Autry |
| 08/28 | Costa Mesa, CA | Detroit Bar |
| 08/31 | Norman, OK | Oklahoma Memorial Union |
| 09/01 | Dallas, TX | The Loft |
| 09/02 | Austin, TX | Antone’s |
| 09/03 | Houston, TX | Fitzgerald’s |
| 09/04 | New Orleans, LA | One Eyed Jacks |
| 09/06 | Tallahassee, FL | Club Downunder |
| 09/07 | Birmingham, AL | The Bottletree |
| 09/10 | Harrisonburg, VA | Clementine |
| 09/11 | Baltimore, MD | Sonar |
| 09/13 | New York, NY | Webster Hall |
| 09/15 | Burlington, VT | Club Metronome |
| 09/16 | Quebec City, QC | Le Cercle |
| 09/17 | Ottawa, ON | Mavericks |
| 09/18 | Hamilton, ON | Casbah |
| 09/20 | Ann Arbor, MI | The Blind Pig |
| 09/23 | Urbana, IL | Channing - Murray Foundation |
| 09/24 | St. Louis, MO | Off Broadway |
| 09/25 | Lawrence, KS | Bottleneck |
| 09/27 | Boulder, CO | Fox Theatre |
07.07.2011
Recently a few publications enlisted their music writers to compile The Best Records of 2011 so far... and we're happy to report that "Too Beautiful To Work" seems to have made a lasting impression.
The Toronto Star's Ben Rayner reasserts his high opinion of TBTW as "cryptic art-rock" that is both "striking and fully realized" and The North Shore News' John Goodman finds TBTW filled with "distinctive, original material which creates a stellar album."
06.16.2011
We are very pleased to announce that our first release The Luyas "Too Beautiful To Work" has been selected for the 2011 Polaris Prize Longlist.
In a year, that most would agree, has seen a huge number of very deserving releases, we are thrilled to be included amongst such an amazing group of artists and records. Thank you Polaris jurors!
check out the full list here »
05.24.2011
The Luyas have just completed their Spring European Tour and are taking a few weeks off after a solid 3 months on the road. Here are some highlights from the last few days in Europe.
Canary with cellist Gasper Claus in Paris.
A version of Tiny Head where The Luyas combined forces with tour mates The Dodos to create "The Doyas" at the Melkweg in Amsterdam.
The Doyas from Bamshakalah on Vimeo.
05.13.2011
Today npr.org made The Luyas "Too Beautiful To Work" their "track of the day" and Brandon Bussolini had this to say about the track and the rest of the album:
"Its frenetic pace isn't one you'd want a band to keep up for too long. The rapid-fire approach may keep The Luyas from getting bogged down by formulas for one song, but the deep cuts that follow succeed by loosening up and breathing. The big, sweeping washes of sound that characterize the rest of the album further undermine those first impressions. The Luyas' members provoke and then beat back expectations; it turns out they're equally good at both."
05.09.2011
We are ecstatic to announce more Canadian Tour dates for The Luyas this summer. We are especially ecstatic that they are in support of Blonde Redhead in what will surely prove to be an incredible double bill. Check the dates below.
| June 20th | The Pyramid | Winnipeg Jazz Festival |
| June 22nd | The Distillery | Sled Island Fest, Calgary, AB |
| June 25th | Vogue Theatre | Vancouver, BC |
05.04.2011
While we wait for The Luyas to come back home and bring their amazing live show across Canada we thought we'd give you a taste of what to expect. Filmed at last years Pop Montreal fest by "the fifth luya" Derrick Belcham and the famed Vincent Moon, this clip offers a look into the Warholian spectacle that The Luyas and collaborators created at Red Bird Studios for the fest. Enjoy.
The Luyas Present "Everything Is Outta Sight" | a film by Derrick Belcham & Vincent Moon from A Story Told Well on Vimeo.
04.19.2011
Just in case you didn't believe us when we told you that 2011 was one giant world tour for The Luyas, we are celebrating the eve of the European leg by announcing a few summer North American dates.
In what is just a taste to come, The Luyas get festive with NXNE before "going back to cali" for a string of shows with Blonde Redhead. July then ends with an Osheaga apperarance in their hometown of Montreal.
| June 16th | Horseshoe Tavern | NXNE Toronto |
| June 17th | The Garrison | NXNE Toronto |
| June 30th | The Independent | San Francisco |
| July 1st | Echoplex | Los Angeles |
| July 2nd | El Rey Theatre | Los Angeles |
| July 3rd | Henry Miller Library | Big Sur |
| July 31st | Osheaga Festival | Montreal |
04.04.2011
On March 25th The Luyas played a show that acted as the opener to the 2011 concert series at Sophia's in Davis, California. A few days earlier in Austin,Texas, the band had kidnapped video wizard Derrick Belcham and he captured this amazing performance of Cats in a Bag from the Luyas first record Faker Death. Enjoy.
04.01.2011
In keeping with the record store theme we're honoured to see Blog T.O.'s Dylan Leeder include us in his latest installment of "In The Window" where Dylan gives "big points" to the elaborate Sounscapes window display dedicated to The Luyas TBTW.
We'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved "In The Window". A big thank you to Sylvie, Greg and everyone at Soundscapes, props to the man of schtuff, Derrick Belcham and a big shout out to Jessie Harris for the sweet lettering.
04.01.2011
Record Store Day is just around the corner and our pals over at Dead Oceans are celebrating by releasing a Luyas/Twin Sister split 7".
Stereogum recently listed the record as one of the 11 most interesting RSD releases and we've made sure Canadians can get their hands on copies so head to your local independent record store on April 16th and help support independent music.
03.21.2011
In today's Toronto Star, Ben Rayner summarizes his SXSW experience and under the heading of "and the next big things are..." he writes:
The Luyas
This singular Montreal quintet led by the lovely Jessie Stein has been threatening greatness since it released its first album, Faker Death, a couple of years ago. Now, with a spectacular new album entitled Too Beautiful to Work in hand, the band would appear to have attained that greatness. The two Luyas shows I caught this week — an afternoon gig at the Show on 6th on Friday and a wee-hours appearance at Spill on Saturday night — were utterly jaw-dropping. The band’s music is dense, complex and totally arty (there’s a French horn in the lineup, after all) and demanding of an intense level of musicianship, which would make it a pure joy to watch even if there weren’t real tunes in there to stick around in your head. The charismatic Stein is kind of a rock star, too, although I’m not sure she realizes it yet.
02.10.2011
Watch The Luyas' contribution to the highly acclaimed Take Away Show series:
02.02.2011
First video from our first album: The Luyas Too Beautiful to Work
IF004
Bry Webb - Provider
An album of mature narratives sung in Webb's distinctive voice, Provider's songs feel at once personal and universal ranging from moving tributes to honest confessions highlighting an intimacy only hinted at in the past. Produced with Jeff McMurrich (Jennifer Castle, Owen Pallett, Sandro Perri), Bry along with lap steel player Rich Burnett, pedal steel player Mike Brooks, and upright bassist Tyler Belluz, recorded the bulk of the album entirely live off the floor. The results are organic, eerie and minimal and provide the perfect backdrop for Bry's literate and detailed narratives. Departing from this approach are the songs Undertaker and Ex-Punks. Undertaker is a gorgeous poetic rumination on life and death filled with stunning imagery perfectly set within a beautiful Colin Stetson horn arrangement while Ex-Punks' provides a sly nod to Bry's past hanging electric guitars atop a thumping bass heavy beat.
Available Formats: LP (includes DD) / CD/ DD
Purchase Album: Click Here
IF002
Deloro - Deloro
"Without question, this collection of songs is consuming. It burns with a passion that seems to all but have flamed out of the roots scene, oh, and the packaging is fucking fantastic."
Herohill- Best of 2011
"Lurking in Toronto's shadows for a number of years, Deloro have finally stepped into the light and their self-titled debut is a masterstroke."
Kaley Evans-Strings of Nashville
"It may not be happy, but it's definitely addictive psych-country."
Popmatters
A collection of songs from as many writers and sung, in as many voices as members, Deloro feels timeless, a collection of concise psychedelia, with themes both dark and light. Jennifer Castle's Travelling Man and Watertower explore leaving and loss amid Motown styled garage stomp and AM guitar strum. Dave Clarke also finds inspiration in the AM dial with his bittersweet pop gem Joy Joy. Tony Romano narrates the cinematic psych of No Fun and later screams through a punk rock hall of mirrors in Take Me As I Am while Paul Mortimer closes Side A with the country psych sunrise of Years and opens Side B with Nostalgia R.I.P. Produced over four seasons with Jeff McMurrich (Jennifer Castle, Constantines, Sandro Perri) Deloro is a stunning and mature debut from a new band full of familiar faces.
Available Formats: LP (includes DD) / DD
Notes on the Packaging
In a nod to the Italian translation of the band's name, this first pressing of the album is being referred to as the Gold Edition. The jacket features gold foil stamped leatherette wrapped around a gold shell in the style of traditional paste-over record jackets. The inner sleeve is also made with a gold stock and is adorned with a poem by artist David Armstrong-Six which is foil stamped in gold. Finally, to complete the gold trifecta, instead of having paper labels the information is foil stamped in gold directly to the centre of the discs, which is possibly a world first. Needless to say, we will not repeat this process on future pressings.
Purchase Album: Click Here
IF001
The Luyas - Too Beautiful to Work
"swept headlong into the thrilling mix of futurist effects and vintage creaking. the luyas concentrate on sounding endearing rather than epic."
Uncut - 4 stars
"The Luyas are as inventive as they are tuneful, as melancholic as they are energetic, as experimental as they are, quite frankly, essential."
Bowlegs U.K. 9.0
"each of its ten gems are so gorgeous that they practically demand immediate repeats"
Exclaim
"like Edith Piaf on mushrooms"
American Songwriter
The Luyas enlisted the help of many friends on Too Beautiful to Work. Owen Pallett provided orchestral arrangements and played the violin. Sarah Neufeld also played violin. Colin Stetson added saxophone and clarinet. John Marshman added some cello, Daniel Romano played the bass, Lisa Chisholm brought the bassoon and Leonie Wall played the flute. Too Beautiful to Work was produced with Jeff McMurrich ( Jennifer Castle, Constantines, Owen Pallett ) at his 6 Nassau studio.
Available Formats: CD / LP / DD
Purchase Album: Click Here
Bry Webb
It was in 2000 when Bryan Webb formed The Constantines in London, Ontario that the public was first made aware of the powerful and literate words that accompanied Bry's distinctive, gruff voice. The band quickly gained attention and upon moving to Guelph and with the release of their Juno nominated debut album on the storied and influential Three Gut Records they cemented the foundation of the decade long career that was to follow.
Beginning in 2005 Bry started to write and perform solo as a vehicle for his singer/songwriter persona and to explore collaborations with different accompanying musicians. Two of these compositions were included in films, most notably Big Smoke which earned a Genie nomination for Best Original Song in 2009. Most recently between writing and demoing for his debut solo record Bry participated in the much-lauded National Parks Project by travelling to The Queen Charlotte Islands and collaborating with Jim Guthrie and Sarah Harmer and very recently collaborated with Leslie Feist on her upcoming album slated for release in October 2011.
Deloro
Deloro are Jennifer Castle, Dave Clarke, Paul Mortimer, Tony Romano and Dallas Wehrle. They hail from Downtown Toronto.
If the members of Deloro have names that ring familiar it’s because the band, as one writer exclaimed, “are a supergroup of sorts”. An apt description when you consider that Jennifer Castle recently released her Castlemusic album on Flemish Eye, Dave Clarke and Paul Mortimer are active members of $100, Dallas Wehrle played in the much-loved Constantines, and Tony Romano is an internationally acclaimed visual artist. It’s this group whose billing of shows as art installations and the cramming of their favourite makeshift venue, the Clint Roenisch Gallery, prompted the blog Panic Manual to report “i’ve been looking for a new Toronto band to root for and i think i’ve found it [sic]”.
The Luyas
The Luyas are Jessie Stein, Mathieu Charbonneau, Pietro Amato and Stefan Schneider and they call Montreal home. Their new record is called Too Beautiful to Work.
Since completing TBTW The Luyas have signed internationally with the influential Dead Oceans label and here in Canada with yours truly. Anticipation for the record's release has been building this past year as The Luyas presented their unique take on the live experience throughout North America and Europe. Tales of blindfolded audience members being led to secret locations only to be bombarded with psychedelic light shows or imaginary ecosystems lit up blogs and in a beautiful piece for McSweeney's Sean Michaels likened the effect on the audience as having their "chipped hearts gleam". Between Vincent Moon's take away show for Blogotheque and Pitchfork's premiere of lead single "Tiny Head" it's easy to see why Exclaim magazine has listed TBTW as one of their top ten most anticipated albums of 2011 and why Eye Weekly's first issue of 2011 included The Luyas as one of four bands guaranteed to break out this year.
What's in store for The Luyas in 2011? Touring. Lots and lots of touring. Canadian release shows for Montreal and Toronto in February and March will be followed by a North American tour which will hit Western Canada in early April. Europe follows mid April and May then back to Canada for more of the strange and wonderful world of The Luyas.
idée fixe records is a new imprint whose curatorial stance focuses on artists working within progressive popular music. We are based in Toronto, Canada.
info@ideefixerecords.com
416.516.3968
74 Wade Ave.
Toronto, ON
M6H 1P6
