Record Of The Week Club
date: June 23, 2009
label: Head In The Sand
downloads: (right click and "save link as")
mp3 - Keewatin Arctic
tracklist:
1. Laying Mortar
2. Step Outside
3. Steamed Chilis
4. Live For Love
5. Come Forth
6. Take What You Can
7. Don't Wanna Cross
8. Call Me
9. All Answers Pending
10. Walkman
11. Falling
12. The Royal Canadian Lovers School
13. Keewatin Arctic
14. Wails On
15. Something Is Kind Of Amiss
16. Waiting For Debates
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Every Wednesday for 16 weeks, 3 musicians showed up at MCM Studios in Winnipeg. They didn't know who else would be arriving. They only knew that over the course of one evening they would have to get to know each other, write, record and mix one song. And that song would be made available for download the following morning.
It was a risky proposition – putting musicians on the hot seat while putting the listener closer to the moment of creation than ever before. It could've been an embarrassing disaster.
But under the guidance of producer/musician/engineer Mike Petkau, all 16 turned out to be inspired and inspiring works celebrating the depth, diversity and passion of the Winnipeg music community. Petkau put together increasingly challenging combinations – revelling in the role of creative puppeteer and excited by the thought of what some of his favorite local musicians might make if spontaneously put into a room with each other. The ROTW Club captured the musical imagination of Winnipeg, and the compilation CD has been prepared to now capture the imagination of the rest of Canada.
The project includes members of The Weakerthans, The Waking Eyes, Novillero, Nathan, Chic Gamine, Moses Mayes, BurnThe8Track, Twilight Hotel, Mahogany Frog and many more. The Weakerthans' John K Samson was paired with Inuit throat singer Nikki Komaksiutiksak and electronic artist Blunderspublik for what has become inarguably the Club's most popular song (Keewatin Arctic) – being downloaded around the world.
The first 1000 copies are individually numbered. Designed by Halifax award-winners Yo Rodeo and printed on recycled material with vegetable based ink.
Check the website for the original mixes, recording details, anecdotes, pictures, and a video by Matthew Rankin for Week 9. The first $1600 raised in download sales are being donated to the rebuilding of the West End Cultural Centre.
Mike Petkau is a busy boy. He fronts a triumphant new band called Les Jupes, who are currently recording their debut with Montreal's Marcus Paquin (Stars, Arcade Fire, Torngat). He plays guitar in The Liptonians, who won a 2008 WCMA for Best Pop Album. He plays bass for Ian La Rue & The Condor who have a new record dropping shortly. And he is a full-time recording engineer and producer (Paper Moon, Mahogany Frog, Twilight Hotel). He also sound-designed & co-wrote the score for Cattle Call, a short film for Bravo Television which recently showcased at Sundance, SXSW, Toronto IFF. Mike has brought his label Head In The Sand Records (H.I.T.S.!?) back from the dead for this compilation, with an eye to more releases in the future. From 2004-2006 Mike released two solo albums and toured tirelessly.