Tag Archives: Ben Wilson

Paper Beat Scissors & Orienteers @ Raw Sugar Cafe [November 28, 2012]

It was a nice and lovely evening at Raw Sugar Cafe.
One of those great nights where I absolutely enjoyed it.
Playing at the show:
• Paper Beat Scissor

• Orienteers

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Orienteers – Man Turns To Sunshine/Mastondon [Listen]

Posted by Ming Wu on January 17, 2012 No comments

You’ve read it right!
Ottawa’s space folk sensation, Orienteers ~~is playing a free show~~.
The band will be playing in the Carleton University Atrium for a CKCU taping on January 19th at 10pm.
Any brave souls who can make it out in the freezing cold should come out and check it out.
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Orienteers – Walking Song [Music Video]

Posted by Ming Wu on November 18, 2011 No comments

I haven’t heard from Ottawa’s Orienteers since I saw them open for Toronto’s The Wilderness of Manitoba on August 5, 2011.
They recently dropped a music video for Walking Song, taken from their self-titled album Orienteers, which dropped back in September.
It’s a nice artsy video postcard of Ontario and California.
If you like spacey indie folk-pop, check out their music.

That’s The Spirit – i like his older stuff (Review)

Posted by Ming Wu on February 18, 2010 No comments

Its been awhile for That’s The Spirit has released anything new since Staying Places.
For those that don’t know, Ben Wilson is technically the lone guy behind That’s The Spirit
Right now on antiqueroom.ca is somewhat of new stuff but its actually old materials.
‘Older Stuff’, after all, was recorded with two ghetto blasters, a broken Radio Shack mic, a cracked classical guitar and an ancient delay pedal that caught fire during recording.”
There is five tracks in this free EP which you can download on this site.

Caroline
Slow In Going By
A Little Sad To See It
Fourteen Days
Caroline II: The Wrath of Caroline

Overall listening to the five tracks, its very different when you hear the actual full length debut.
Its very fly on the wall kind of DIY recording.
If you like experimental lo-fi recordings, then this might be a interest to you.
Also its free to download the EP.

Review: The Polytones and That's The Spirit

Posted by Ming Wu on February 27, 2009 No comments

Finally got time to listen to both albums by Ottawa bands
First being The Polytone‘s 2005 album “You and I Were Made Of Dynamite” (Reminds of the Cranberrie’s first album title)
Second being That’s The Spirit‘s “Staying Places”
Why I put those two together its because Ben Wilson is in both bands.
Listening to The Polytone‘s album
Its a poppy rock fun album.
First time I saw them live I was kind of put on the spot while taken a photo of the lead singer while she was taking her sweater off.
Shows you that the band is upbeat and fun while they are live.
Favorite tracks: Souvenir, King of Siam, Broken Stems, After The Show and Songs That You’ll Never Sing.

Not sure when they will make a new album.
While we wait, we are introduced with Ben’s side project called That’s The Spirit.
Its very different from his other band’s stuff.
Its more acoustic folky-rock-poppy sound style.
Very Neil Young influence sound.
The album is very mellow, slow, acoustic and soft.
There is a theme of loneliness and saddness.
Favorite tracks: Orienteering, Head For The Hills, The Blue Of Distance, Epic Advice and Lost In The Middle 8.