OPTICAL SOUNDS takes up residency at the Silver Dollar on Thursday and Friday (November 8 and 9). See listing. Rating: NNNN
Optical Sounds has been the spiritual hub of Toronto’s psychedelic rock scene since 2008, but its diminutive size and budget have kept its album release count relatively low. Psych Pop From Toronto, a 14-track snapshot of the thriving but way-underground scene, showcases the full spate of bands caught in its orbit, whether or not they’re on the official roster.
Curated by Spacemen 3/Brian Jonestown Massacre’s Will Carruthers, who spent a year living in Toronto, the compilation does a good job of presenting the strength and diversity in what is often considered a narrow genre. Sure, most bands here are addicted to reverb and dreamy melodies, but there’s also lush orchestral rock (Flowers of Hell), Brit-influenced paisley-rock (the Hoa Hoa’s) mopey 80s post-punk (the Disraelis), VU-style drone (Ostrich Tuning), shoegaze (Volcano Playground), garage (Action Makes) and girl-group throwback (Planet Creature).
Top track: Falling In Love Is For Young People, by the Hoa Hoa’s
