Mocky

Dominic Salole (aka Mocky) has sure come a long way from his Saskatchewan roots. This multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/producer has long been based in Europe, where he has collaborated extensively with both fellow Canucks (Feist, Gonzalez, Taylor Savvy) and artists such as Jamie Lidell (with whom he has co-written extensively) and Nikka Costa. His earlier solo albums mixed hip-hop and electro, and Saskamodie, his fourth and best album, is seriously eclectic. There's a mellow lounge-jazz-meets-French-soundtrack vibe to many of the cuts, mixed in with the occasional soulful pop ballad like "Birds Of A Feather" and "Somehow Someway." It's all as light and airy as a well-constructed soufflé but with just enough melodic intelligence to keep your attention. Cameos are taken by the likes of Lidell, Feist, Gonzales (who co-wrote two cuts), Joel Gibb and Denzel Sinclaire, while horns and strings are utilized in subtle fashion. Mocky plays a virtual music store's worth of instruments, including drums, bass, guitar, keyboards, percussion, recorder and, yes, bells and whistles! A couple of pointless drum fills are the only flaws in his arrangements. This is an impressive outing, worthy of exposure.